title: A Synchrotron X-ray Study of a Solid-Solid Phase Transition in a Two-Dimensional Crystal.
abstract: A measurement and interpretation on a molecular level of a phase transition in an ordered Langmuir monolayer is reported. The diagram of surface pressure (pi) versus molecular area of a monolayer of chiral (S)-[CF(3)-(CF(2))(9)-(CH(2))(2)-OCO-CH(2)-CH (NH(3)(+))CO(2)(-)] over water shows a change in slope at about pi(s)= 25 millinewtons per meter. Grazing-incidence x-ray diffraction and specular reflectivity measurements indicate a solid-solid phase transition at pi(s). The diffraction pattren at low pressures reveals two diffraction peaks of equal intensities, with lattice spacings d of 5.11 and 5.00 angstroms; these coalesce for pi >/=pi(s). Structural models that fit the diffraction data show that at pi> pi(s) the molecules pack in a two-dimensional crystal with the molecules aligned vertically. At pi < pi(s) there is a molecular tilt of 16 degrees +/- 7 degrees . Independent x-ray reflectivity data yield a tilt of 26 degrees +/- 7 degrees . Concomitant with the tilt, the diffraction data indicate a transition from a hexagonal to a distorted-hexagonal lattice. The hexagonal arrangement is favored because the -(CF(2))(9)CF(3) moiety adopts a helical conformation. Compression to 70 millinewtons per meter yields a unit cell with increased crystallinity and a coherence length exceeding 1000 angstroms.
authors.forename: S G
authors.initials: SG
authors.lastname: Wolf
authors.forename: E M
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Landau
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Lahav
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Leiserowitz
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Deutsch
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kjaer
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Als-Nielsen