Disordering of an Organic Overlayer on a Metal Surface Upon Cooling

Abstract

Coolly Disordered Generally speaking, at higher temperature phases materials are more disordered—for example, when solids melt to form liquids. In some cases, however—for example, under high pressure—a more disordered phase can emerge upon cooling. Schöll et al. (p. 303 ) now show that an organic molecule, a naphthalene derivative, adsorbed on a silver surface disorders upon cooling below room temperature. This process is driven by the surface bond becoming stronger upon cooling and preventing weaker interactions that allow ordering between molecules in the plane.