{{short description|Production of electric fields by thin films of various materials}} {{confusing|date=June 2013|reason=The average user may have difficulty understanding what this article is about.}}
In solid state physics, '''spontelectrics''' is the study and phenomenon of thin films of various materials producing strong electric fields.
== Properties == When laid down as thin films tens to hundreds of molecular layers thick, a range of materials spontaneously generate large electric fields. The electric fields can be greater than 10<sup>8</sup> V/m.<ref>{{cite journal|last=Field|first=David |author2=O. Plekan |author3=A. Cassidy |author4=R. Balog |author5=N.C. Jones |author6=J. Dunger|title=Spontaneous electric fields in solid films: spontelectrics|journal=Int. Rev. Phys. Chem.|date=12 Mar 2013|doi=10.1080/0144235X.2013.767109|volume=32 |issue=3 |pages=345–392|s2cid=96405473 }}</ref>
Spontelectric behaviour is intrinsic to the dipolar nature of the constituent molecules.
The detection (in ~2009) of spontaneous electric fields in numerous solid films prepared by vapour deposition raises fundamental questions about the nature of disordered materials.<ref>{{cite journal|last=Plekan|first=Oksana|author2=Andrew Cassidy |author3=Richard Balog |author4=Nykola C. Jones |author5=David Field |title=Spontaneous electric fields in films of cis-methyl formate|journal=Phys. Chem. Chem. Phys.|year=2012|volume=14|pages=9972–9976|doi=10.1039/C2CP41229B|url=http://pubs.rsc.org/en/content/articlehtml/2012/cp/c2cp41229b|issue=28|pmid=22714668|bibcode = 2012PCCP...14.9972P |url-access=subscription}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal|last=Balog|first=R|author2=Cicman P |author3=Jones NC |author4=Field D |title=Spontaneous dipole alignment in films of N2O|journal=Phys. Rev. Lett.|date=Feb 2009|volume=102|issue=7|doi=10.1103/PhysRevLett.102.073003|bibcode = 2009PhRvL.102g3003B |pmid=19257663 |article-number=073003}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal|last=Plekan|first=Oksana |author2=A. Cassidy |author3=R. Balog |author4=N.C. Jones |author5=D. Field|title=A new form of spontaneously polarized material|journal=Phys. Chem. Chem. Phys.|year=2011|volume=13|issue=47 |pages=21035–21044|doi=10.1039/C1CP22310K|pmid=22020313 |bibcode = 2011PCCP...1321035P }}</ref><ref>{{cite journal|last=Field|first=David |author2=Oksana Plekan |author3=Andrew Cassidy |author4=Richard Balog |author5=Nykola Jones|title=A new class of spontaneously polarized materials|journal=Europhysics News|year=2011|volume=42|issue=6|pages=32–35|doi=10.1051/epn/2011605|url=http://www.europhysicsnews.org/index.php?option=com_article&access=standard&Itemid=129&url=/articles/epn/pdf/2011/06/epn2011426p32.pdf|bibcode = 2011ENews..42...32F |doi-access=free}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal|last=Cassidy|first=Andrew |author2=O. Plekan |author3=R. Balog |author4=N.C. Jones |author5=D. Field|title=Spontaneous electric fields in films of CF3Cl, CF2Cl2 and CFCl3|journal=Phys. Chem. Chem. Phys.|year=2013|volume=15|issue=1 |pages=108–113|doi=10.1039/C2CP43138F|pmid=23147680 |url=http://pubs.rsc.org/en/content/articlehtml/2013/cp/c2cp43138f|bibcode = 2013PCCP...15..108C |url-access=subscription}}</ref>
==External links== * [http://phys.au.dk/en/news/item/artikel/friday-talk-david-field-spontelectrics-or-the-solid-state-continues-to-surprise-us/ Spontelectrics, or the solid state continues to surprise us] * [http://ing.dk/artikel/fysikoverraskelse-elektrisk-spaending-opstar-spontant-i-tyndfilm-af-lattergas-125543 Fysikoverraskelse: Elektrisk spænding opstår spontant i tyndfilm af lattergas] * [http://astrochemistry.hw.ac.uk/docs/talks/JL_Astrosurf2013.pdf Another way to sponteletrics].
==References== {{reflist}} <!--- After listing your sources please cite them using inline citations and place them after the information they cite. Please see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:REFB for instructions on how to add citations. ---> * * * *
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Category:Condensed matter physics