Order and Disorder in Novel Condensed Phases Formed at Interfaces

这项研究项目的目的是理解在界面形成的各种新颖的“二维固体”中所创造的“有序和无序，或复杂性”。从结构和热力学两个方面对其进行了研究。研究了三种凝聚相：(A)在气固界面形成的二维固体，(B)在固液界面形成的二维固体，以及(C)在初始结晶过程中形成的二维冰晶。我们应用了扫描探针显微镜、量热法、X射线和中子衍射技术。1.用扫描探针显微镜，在150~400K的真空条件下，对吸附在石墨(和云母)表面的几种液晶材料的结构进行了观察，在获得真实特征时遇到了各种困难，这无疑是我们研究这些体系的有力手段之一。2.X射线和中子衍射技术已经成功地应用于这些体系。我们发表了一篇关于这方面的论文。3.对于甘油/水体系，我们发表了一篇论文，并继续研究了在0.4K以下极低温度下的热力学特征。从混合物的角度来看，立方冰和六方冰的结晶将是非常有趣的，从实用的角度来看，这也可能是非常重要的。

The goal of this research project was to understand the "Order and Disorder, or Complexity" created in various novel "2-D Solids" formed at interfaces. It has been investigated from both the structural and thermodynamic aspects. Three types of condensed phases have been studied; (a) 2-D solids formed at gas-solid interfaces, (b) 2-D solids formed at solid-liquid interfaces, and (c) 2-D ice crystals formed during the initial crystallization process. We applied scanning probe microscope as well as calorimetry and X-ray and neutron diffraction techniques. The followings are the results obtained in this year.1.With scanning probe microscope, we tried to observe the structure of a couple of liquid-crystalline materials adsorbed on the surface of graphite (and mica) under a vacuum at the temperature ranging from 150 K to 400 K. While we met various problems in obtaining the real feature, this technique certainly became one of our powerful methods to study those systems.2.X-ray and neutron diffraction techniques have been continuously applied to those systems successfully. We- published a paper on this. As an extension of this research, we have started another project to see the structure of perfluoroalkane monolayers adsorbed on graphite.3.For the glycerol/water system, we published one paper and continue to study the thermodynamic feature at very low temperature down to 0.4 K. The crystallization of cubic ice and hexagonal ice from the mixture is going to be very interesting, which may be very important also from the practical point of view.