Wetting Transition in Solid Films: Reflection-High-Energy-Electron-Diffraction Study of Multilayers of CF4Adsorbed on Graphite

Abstract

The stability of multilayer formation versus clustering of C${\mathrm{F}}_4$ films adsorbed on graphite has been studied by reflection high-energy electron diffraction. It is found that an incomplete-to-complete wetting transition occurs at $T_w=37\mathrm{}$ K, a temperature far below the bulk triple point (89.5 K). The presence of a hysteresis indicates that the transition is first order.