The multilayer melting transition in methane adsorbed on graphite

High resolution heat capacity measurements of multilayer methane adsorbed on graphite are presented and analyzed. The evidence indicates the presence of two wetting transitions: a first-order dewetting transition at T w = 90.48 K, and a continuous wetting transition at the triple point, T t = 90.66...

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Bibliographic Details
Published inSurface science Vol. 175; no. 1; pp. 141 - 156
Main Authors Pettersen, M.S., Lysek, Mark J., Goodstein, D.L.
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published Lausanne Elsevier B.V 01.09.1986
Amsterdam Elsevier Science
New York, NY
Subjects
Chemistry
Exact sciences and technology
General and physical chemistry
Solid-gas interface
Surface physical chemistry
Methane
Melting
Multilayer
Hydrocarbon
Wetting
Aliphatic compound
Organic adsorbate
Saturated compound
Heat capacity
Inorganic adsorbent
Amorphous state
Experimental study
Phase transitions
Gas solid adsorption
Graphite
Gas solid interface
Calorimetry
Physical method
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Summary:High resolution heat capacity measurements of multilayer methane adsorbed on graphite are presented and analyzed. The evidence indicates the presence of two wetting transitions: a first-order dewetting transition at T w = 90.48 K, and a continuous wetting transition at the triple point, T t = 90.66 K. This behavior is to be expected in connection with the melting transition in any system where both solid and liquid wet the surface. Heat capacity measurements can provide a valuable diagnostic tool for the wetting behavior of films too thick to be investigated by other means. In the thin film limit, we find that the latent heat of melting vanishes at about 4 layers.
ISSN:0039-6028
1879-2758
DOI:10.1016/0039-6028(86)90088-9