Simulations are presented of model ice adsorbate layers on metals, in the coverage range of 2-4 bilayers. The issues investigated include the decay mechanism of ferroelectricity imposed by bonding of the first bilayer to the metal, and the influence of first bilayer flattening (due to bonding to the metal) on the adsorbate structure. A new kind of defect in the ice structure—an internal dangling OH bond—is reported, and shown to provide a mechanism for decay of ferroelectricity over the range of 2-3 bilayers only. Flattening of the bottom bilayer results in "sandwich-like" absorbate structures, and disappearance of most dangling-OH bonds from the upper surface.
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