Relaxational motion and ice formation of water adsorbed to cellulose

Cellulose, the most abundant structural polymer in nature is strongly hydro philic. Adsorbed water molecules are found to relax on the time scale of pi coseconds far below the melting temperature of bulk water. The relaxation t imes are considerably longer than in bulk supercooled water. The liquid com ponent is stable towards crystallization. With decreasing temperature it gr adually freezes into a distinct amorphous polymorph of water which bears re semblance to low-density amorphous ice.