Phase Transitions in Channel Clathrates of Thiourea with Hexachloroethane and Tetrachloroethane

An explanation is proposed for the nature of phase transitions in channel clathrates of thiourea with hexachloroethane and tetrachloroethane. Analysis of experimental temperature dependences of specific heat, entropy, and NQR spectra indicates the existence of first and secondorder phase transitions. In the thiourea + hexachloroethane compound, the secondorder phase transition (94.60 K, entropy gain Rln2) implies a transformation of two equiprobable states (lowtemperature phase) into a single new state (hightemperature phase). The firstorder phase transition corresponds to clathrate channel distortion. In the thiourea + tetrachloroethane compound, the secondorder phase transition (224K, entropy change Rln 6) occurs with transformation of six equiprobable states (lowtemperature phase) into a single new state (hightemperature phase). The firstorder phase transition corresponds to clathrate channel distortion. The next secondorder phase transition observed in this compound at 248 K leads to disappearance of the four possible orientations of guest molecules in the clathrate channel of hexagonal section and to a transition of guest molecules to chaotic orientation (entropy increment equals Rln 4).