THE ORIENTATIONAL POLARIZATION OF ADSORBED POLAR MOLECULES

Abstract

The orientational polarization of a polar molecule adsorbed on a solid surface is deduced for two cases. First, the molecule oscillates in the plane of the surface about some equilibrium position. A zero temperature coefficient of the polarization is deduced. Second, the molecule may rotate freely in the plane within some given angle, but cannot incline to any greater extent from the equilibrium position under the influence of the field. The normal temperature coefficient is obtained with this model.The derivation of these formulae is based upon the procedures of Kurbatov who considered oscillation and rotation to be possible in three dimensions. The models employed here are considered preferable on the grounds that a physically adsorbed polyatomic molecule would presumably lie flat in the plane of the adsorbing surface.