Ethanol on graphite: The influence of hydrogen bonding on surface melting

Journal Article · Mon Jul 06 04:00:00 EDT 1992 · Physical Review Letters; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.69.89· OSTI ID:7110476

Herwig, K W; Trouw, F R ^[1]

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1. Intense Pulsed Neutron Source, Argonne National Laboratory, Argonne, Illinois 60439 (United States)

Neutron diffraction demonstrates that ethanol physisorbed on the basal planes of graphite forms a commensurate unit cell with a melting temperature of approximately 205 K for coverages from 0.7 to 1.6 monolayers. This temperature is 46 K {ital above} the melting temperature of bulk ethanol, making this system unique among species physisorbed on graphite. A microscopic model of the system has been developed using a molecular dynamics simulation. It predicts a two-step mechanism for melting and demonstrates that hydrogen bonding plays a dominant role in stabilizing the two-dimensional solid.

• DOE Contract Number: W-31109-ENG-38
• OSTI ID: 7110476
• Journal Information: Physical Review Letters; (United States), Journal Name: Physical Review Letters; (United States) Vol. 69:1; ISSN PRLTA; ISSN 0031-9007
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE
360602* -- Other Materials-- Structure & Phase Studies
ADSORPTION
ALCOHOLS
CARBON
CHEMICAL BONDS
COHERENT SCATTERING
DIFFRACTION
ELEMENTAL MINERALS
ELEMENTS
ETHANOL
FILMS
GRAPHITE
HYDROXY COMPOUNDS
MELTING POINTS
MINERALS
MOBILITY
NEUTRON DIFFRACTION
NONMETALS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
SCATTERING
SORPTION
THERMODYNAMIC PROPERTIES
THIN FILMS
TRANSITION TEMPERATURE