Reconciling the Adsorbed Water Layer with the Exclusion Zone: A Magnetic Field Model

The relationship between the thin adsorbed water layer conventionally observed on hydrophilic surfaces and the much larger "exclusion zone" described in the literature has remained unclear. In this review, we survey the evidence for both phenomena and propose that they are intimately connected: the adsorbate constitutes a structurally distinct phase that generates a magnetic field, which in turn diamagnetically orders the surrounding water over much larger distances. This model reconciles the thin adsorbate with the much larger exclusion zone, and is consistent with available data, with broader implications for water’s magnetic properties.