In solid state physics, spontelectrics is the study and phenomenon of thin films of various materials producing strong electric fields.
When laid down as thin films tens to hundreds of molecular layers thick, a range of materials spontaneously generate large electric fields.
The electric fields can be greater than 108 V/m.
[1] Spontelectric behaviour is intrinsic to the dipolar nature of the constituent molecules.
The detection (in ~2009) of spontaneous electric fields in numerous solid films prepared by vapour deposition raises fundamental questions about the nature of disordered materials.