Spontelectrics

When laid down as thin films tens to hundreds of molecular layers thick, a range of materials spontaneously generate large electric fields. These fields can be greater than 10⁸ V/m.

These films have rather special properties.They represent a new form of the solid state called spontelectric.^[1] Spontelectric behaviour is intrinsic to the dipolar nature of the constituent molecules.

The detection (in ~2009) of spontaneous electric fields in numerous solid films prepared by vapour deposition raises fundamental questions about the nature of disordered materials.^{[2][3][4][5][6]}

David Field played a major role in the discovery of spontelectrics.

External links

• Spontelectrics, or the solid state continues to surprise us
• Fysikoverraskelse: Elektrisk spænding opstår spontant i tyndfilm af lattergas
• Another way to sponteletrics.

References

1. Field, David; O. Plekan; A. Cassidy; R. Balog; N.C. Jones; J. Dunger (12 Mar 2013). "Spontaneous electric fields in solid films: spontelectrics". Int.Rev.Phys.Chem. doi:10.1080/0144235X.2013.767109.
2. Plekan, Oksana; Andrew Cassidy; Richard Balog; Nykola C. Jones; David Field (2012). "Spontaneous electric fields in films of cis-methyl formate". Phys. Chem. Chem. Phys. 14 (28): 9972–9976. Bibcode:2012PCCP...14.9972P. doi:10.1039/C2CP41229B. PMID 22714668.
3. Balog, R; Cicman P; Jones NC; Field D (Feb 2009). "Spontaneous dipole alignment in films of N2O". Phys. Rev. Lett. 102 (7). Bibcode:2009PhRvL.102g3003B. doi:10.1103/PhysRevLett.102.073003.
4. Plekan, Oksana; A. Cassidy; R. Balog; N.C. Jones; D. Field (2011). "A new form of spontaneously polarized material". Phys. Chem. Chem. Phys. 13: 21035–21044. Bibcode:2011PCCP...1321035P. doi:10.1039/C1CP22310K.
5. Field, David; Oksana Plekan; Andrew Cassidy; Richard Balog; Nykola Jones (2011). "A new class of spontaneously polarized materials" (PDF). Europhysics News. 42 (6): 32–35. Bibcode:2011ENews..42...32F. doi:10.1051/epn/2011605.
6. Cassidy, Andrew; O. Plekan; R. Balog; N.C. Jones; D. Field (2013). "Spontaneous electric fields in films of CF3Cl, CF2Cl2 and CFCl3". Phys. Chem. Chem. Phys. 15: 108–113. Bibcode:2013PCCP...15..108C. doi:10.1039/C2CP43138F.