Layer-by-layer growth of solid argon films on graphite as studied by neutron diffraction

Journal Article · Fri Sep 01 04:00:00 EDT 1989 · Physical Review (Section) B: Condensed Matter; (USA)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevB.40.4271· OSTI ID:5574489

Larese, J Z; Zhang, Q M; Passell, L; Hastings, J M ^[1]; Dennison, J R; Taub, H ^[2]

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1. Brookhaven National Laboratory, Upton, New York 11973 (US)
2. Department of Physics, University of Missouri-Columbia, Columbia, Missouri 65211

The layer-by-layer growth of solid argon films on graphite at {ital T}=10 K is studied using elastic neutron diffraction. The growth is characterized by individual layers with commensurate in-plane lattice constants. As the coverage is increased beyond two layers, evidence of the coexistence of {ital ABC} and {ital ABA} stacking is apparent, with the {ital ABC} sequence dominating as the film thickens. A continuous decrease in the Debye-Waller factor also occurs as the film thickness grows, indicating a crossover from two-dimensional to three-dimensional behavior. As the coverage is increased beyond about four nominal layers, there is evidence of bulk crystallite formation. The diffraction results are compared with equivalent measurements for methane films and with the recent computer simulations of Hruska and Phillips.

• DOE Contract Number: AC02-76CH00016
• OSTI ID: 5574489
• Journal Information: Physical Review (Section) B: Condensed Matter; (USA), Journal Name: Physical Review (Section) B: Condensed Matter; (USA) Vol. 40:7; ISSN 0163-1829; ISSN PRBMD
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE
360601* -- Other Materials-- Preparation & Manufacture
ALKANES
ARGON
CARBON
COHERENT SCATTERING
COMPUTERIZED SIMULATION
DEBYE-WALLER FACTOR
DIFFRACTION
ELEMENTAL MINERALS
ELEMENTS
FILMS
FLUIDS
GASES
GRAPHITE
GROWTH
HYDROCARBONS
LAYERS
METHANE
MINERALS
NEUTRON DIFFRACTION
NONMETALS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
RARE GASES
SCATTERING
SIMULATION
SORPTION
SORPTIVE PROPERTIES
SURFACE PROPERTIES
THIN FILMS
ULTRALOW TEMPERATURE
WETTABILITY