Melting of thin films of alkanes on magnesium oxide

Recent incoherent neutron scattering investigations of the dynamics of thin alkane films adsorbed on the Magnesium Oxide (100) surface are reported. There are marked differences in the behaviour of these films, as a function of temperature and coverage, compared to similar measurements on graphite....

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:The European physical journal. ST, Special topics Special topics, 2009-02, Vol.167 (1), p.143-150
Main Authors: Arnold, T., Barbour, A., Chanaa, S., Cook, R. E., Fernandez-Canato, D., Landry, P., Seydel, T., Yaron, P., Larese, J. Z.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Atomic
Chemical Physics
Classical and Continuum Physics
Condensed Matter Physics
Condensed matter: structure, mechanical and thermal properties
Cross-disciplinary physics: materials science
rheology
Exact sciences and technology
Fullerenes and related materials
diamonds, graphite
General Physics
Materials Science
Measurement Science and Instrumentation
Molecular
Optical and Plasma Physics
Other nonelectronic physical properties
Physical properties of thin films, nonelectronic
Physics
Physics and Astronomy
Regular Article
Specific materials
Structure and morphology
thickness
Surfaces and interfaces
thin films and whiskers (structure and nonelectronic properties)
Thin film structure and morphology
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Summary:Recent incoherent neutron scattering investigations of the dynamics of thin alkane films adsorbed on the Magnesium Oxide (100) surface are reported. There are marked differences in the behaviour of these films, as a function of temperature and coverage, compared to similar measurements on graphite. In particular, it has previously been shown that adsorbed multilayer films on graphite exhibit an interfacial solid monolayer that coexists with bulk-like liquid, well above the bulk melting point. In contrast, these studies show that the alkane films on MgO exhibit no such stabilization of the solid layer closest to the substrate as a function of the film thickness, even though the monolayer crystal structures are remarkably similar. These studies are supported by extensive thermodynamic data, a growing body of structural data from neutron diffraction and state of the art computer modelling
ISSN:1951-6355
1951-6401
DOI:10.1140/epjst/e2009-00950-7