Electron diffraction studies of mechanisms of crystal structure formation in N2 clusters

The structure of N2 clusters is studied by the electron diffraction method over a wide range of their mean sizes N. It is found that, as the value of N increases, the structure of the clusters is transformed in the sequence quasi-crystal (icosahedron) →α-N2 (cubic) phase with stacking faults →β-N2 (hcp) phase. The formation of the cubic phase from the icosahedral structure follows a mechanism typical of rare gases, while the transition α→β is due to an increase in the cluster temperature with the size.