Displacement transition in Kr/cyclohexane adsorbed on graphite: what is the driving force?

Abstract The adsorption of Kr on cyclohexane-preplated graphite has been studied volumetrically at 77K. A displacement transition and layer-by-layer condensation transitions occur as the amount of Kr increases. Through quantitative analysis of adsorption isotherms, compositions and organizations of adsorbed phases have been derived. It has been found that as many Kr atoms as cyclohexane molecules reside on top of a cyclohexane monolayer prior to the displacement transition. It is argued that the displacement transition is driven by the energy released when kr atoms adsorbed on the cyclohexane monolayer are transferred onto the graphite surface to create a monolayer phase of Kr.