Small molecules, giant (surface) potential

In a molecular feat akin to getting pedestrians in a scramble crosswalk to spontaneously start walking in step, researchers have created a series of molecules that tend to face the same direction to form a 'giant surface potential' when evaporated onto a surface. The resulting electric fields at the surface can help improve the efficiency of organic light-emitting diodes and open new routes for converting vibrations into electricity with organic materials.