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A Spontaneously Electrical State of Matter.
Andrew Cassidy1, Martin R S McCoustra2, David Field3
1Center for Interstellar Catalysis, Department of Physics and Astronomy, Aarhus University, Aarhus 8000, Denmark.
Accounts of Chemical Research
|June 9, 2023
Summary
Molecular films spontaneously self-organize, creating strong electric fields due to aligned dipoles. This phenomenon in thin solid films offers insights into intermolecular forces and material properties.
Area of Science:
- Solid-state physics
- Materials science
- Surface science
Background:
- Molecular deposition on surfaces forms thin films with structures governed by intermolecular interactions.
- Dipolar molecular species exhibit counterintuitive self-organization, aligning their dipoles in thin films.
- This alignment generates significant spontaneous electric fields at the film-vacuum interface.
Purpose of the Study:
- To detail observations of spontaneous electric fields in molecular solids.
- To provide insights into the dynamics and structure of molecular materials facilitated by these fields.
- To present a dipole-alignment mean-field model for electric field strength.
Main Methods:
- Observation of spontaneous electric fields in various molecular solids (e.g., CO, N2O, alcohols).
- Measurement of electric field strength dependence on film deposition temperature.
- Analysis of temperature-dependent Stark shifts in IR and UV absorption spectra.
- Application of a dipole-alignment mean-field model.
Main Results:
- Reported electric fields exceeding 10^8 V/m.
- Demonstrated variation of field strength with deposition temperature.
- Observed large Wannier-Mott excitons in wide band gap molecular materials.
- Utilized surface potential measurements to study dynamics of glassy molecular solids.
Conclusions:
- Spontaneous electric fields in molecular films arise from collective dipole orientation, representing a metastable state.
- These fields highlight the importance of solid-state intermolecular electrostatic interactions.
- The phenomenon has implications for materials science, astrochemistry, and catalysis.
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