Structure of axially compressed monolayers ofN2physisorbed on graphite

Monte Carlo calculations have been used to study the effect of compressing monolayers of ${\mathrm{N}}_2$ physisorbed on graphite. Axial compression of a commensurate (ordered herringbone) monolayer initially generates striped domain walls about 35 Å wide rather than a uniform incommensurate structure. The onset of rotational diffusion for molecules in the domain-wall regions occurs at higher temperatures than in the commensurate domains.