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Updated: Jun 25, 2026

Spatial Separation of Molecular Conformers and Clusters
Published on: January 9, 2014
Spontaneous dipole alignment in films of N2O
Richard Balog1, P Cicman, N C Jones
1Department of Physics and Astronomy, and Institute for Storage Ring Facilities, University of Aarhus, 8000 Aarhus C, Denmark.
Abstract:
Experimental data obtained using low energy electron beams are presented which show that films of N2O, of several hundred monolayers (ML), spontaneously acquire a positive potential of as high as 5 V. Films do not possess a dipole double layer but for >40 ML display a constant electric field within the material. This new phenomenon is attributed to dipole alignment. The phenomenon also shows a strong temperature dependence. This is revealed by the differing dependence of the surface potential on the film thickness at different temperatures and by electron transmission spectra which display marked structure at 62 K which is absent at 40 K.
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