Orientational ordering of N2O molecules adsorbed on graphite (0001): A novel commensurate pinwheel structure
The structure and orientational ordering of N2O molecules physisorbed on graphite (0001) is investigated applying x-ray, neutron, and low-energy electron diffraction techniques. Combining the results of the three techniques, we find that N2O forms a highly ordered, hexagonal, commensurate (sqrt[21]xsqrt[21])R10.89 degrees phase. The unit cell contains seven molecules which are arranged in a seven-sublattice pinwheel structure, unexpected for linear molecules on a hexagonal lattice. Potential energy calculations corroborate these results.
Leinbock
B
Institut fur Physik, Johannes Gutenberg-Universitat, D-55099 Mainz, Germany.
Kromker
B
Wiechert
H
Hofmann
M