原子尺度上的异质催化

现实中的催化剂是个相当复杂的系统体系，且为粉末状，限制了多种表面科学表征手段的应用,科学家通过建立简化的催化剂模型，充分利用目前多种有力的科技分析手段，如扫描隧道显微镜（STM）、透射电镜（TEM）、光电子能谱（XPS）、傅里叶变换红外吸收谱（FTIR）、电子能量损失谱（EELS）等，直观地在原子尺度上研究催化反应的机理，从而使得人们能够设计出选择性能更高、催化性能更好的催化剂．     

The role of nucleation field of media in heat-assisted magnetic probe recording

We characterize a method of heat-assisted magnetic probe recording on perpendicular media. Heating source is field emission current from a scanning tunneling microscope (STM) tip. Recording media are three kinds of magnetic films, Co/Pt, CoNi/Pt, and Co/Pd multilayers with different nucleation fields. Pulses with amplitude of 5 V were applied between the STM tip and the recording medium. Experiments show that magnetic marks with an average size of 180 nm were formed on both Co/Pt and CoNi/Pt films whose nucleation fields are greater than their saturation magnetization. No marks were observed on the Co/Pd film whose nucleation field is smaller than its saturation magnetization. A model is built to simulate the dynamic process of domain formation in probe-based magnetic recording system. Simulation results agree with experiments and it explains the effect of the nucleation field of medium in perpendicular recording.     

Effective, fast, and low temperature encapsulation of fullerene derivatives in single wall carbon nanotubes

High filling of single wall nanotubes (SWCNTs) with the typical exohedrally functionalized fullerene derivative of C₆₀N-methyl-3,4-fulleropyrrolidine C₆₀-C₃NH₇ is reported at the temperature of refluxing hexane. The new peapod material is characterized by STM (scanning tunneling microscopy), TEM (transmission electron microscopy) and Raman spectroscopy. Atomically resolved STM scans on SWCNT show no excessive defects or sidewall functionalization as a result of this treatment. The radial breathing mode (RBM) mode of SWCNT at 165 cm⁻¹ becomes weaker and shifted to 169 cm⁻¹ indicating filled nanotubes. TEM studies show bundles of SWCNT are highly filled with derivative C₆₀-C₃NH₇ and form the (C₆₀-C₃NH₇)_n peapods. Individual pyrrolidine-type functional groups attached to the fullerene cages are unambiguously visualized by a lower-dose observation.     

Self-assembly of 2,6-dimethylpyridine on Cu(1 1 0) directed by weak hydrogen bonding

Sequential stages of formation of a self-assembled monolayer of flat-lying 2,6-dimethylpyridine molecules on a single crystal Cu(1 1 0) surface have been observed by low-temperature scanning tunneling microscopy (LT-STM). At an adsorption temperature of 10 K, all of the molecules are randomly distributed at low coverage upon adsorption. The isolated molecules align their molecular axes parallel to the 〈0 0 1〉 azimuth of the Cu lattice. The nitrogen atom in the molecule is located at the four-fold hollow site. Upon annealing to 100 K, the molecules associate to form head-to-head dimers. The dimer units involve a pair of weak hydrogen bonds between methyl group-hydrogen atoms and N moieties on adjacent molecules, forming a core structure for further growth. In a later stage of self-assembly, single head-to-tail weak hydrogen bonds between ring C-H bonds and N moieties form in chains on the periphery of the central cores, leading to larger domains with a c(6 × 2) overlayer structure.     

Total analysis of surface structure and properties by UHV transfer system

We have developed an ultrahigh-vacuum (UHV) complex sample preparation and analysis system, which realizes a reliable surface science analyzing various characters on an identical surface. The system contains three sample-preparation-and-characterization chambers and five analysis chambers. They are (1) an electronic-properties-characterization chamber, (2) a magnetic-properties-characterization chamber, (3) an organic-molecule chamber, (4) UHV SEM, (5) a high-energy-resolution angle-resolved photoelectron spectrometer, (6) a high-energy-resolution display-type spherical mirror analyzer, (7) a room-temperature (RT) STM, and (8) an optical-properties characterization chamber. A special sample holder is used with six electrodes on it, which enables accurate temperature measurement of a sample by connecting a thermocouple directly to the sample even if it is transferred. Four other electrodes can be used for construction of various circuits including evaporators. Some examples are shown.     

Growth of Pt thin films on WSe2

The morphology and structure of Pt deposited on a WSe₂(0 0 0 1) van der Waals surface have been investigated by reflection high energy electron diffraction and scanning tunneling microscopy. At room temperature, the initial growth is characterized by the formation of three-dimensional fcc Pt islands with (1 1 1) orientation. In contrast, at higher temperatures of about 450 °C the formation of a novel chemically ordered Pt-Se alloy is observed. Based on the diffraction patterns, a tetragonal DO₂₂-type structure of a Pt₃Se compound is suggested. With increasing Pt thickness, this chemically ordered alloy disappears and an additional superstructure occurs, which is accompanied by the coalescence of the islands. The observed superstructure is attributed to a strong Se diffusion towards the growth surface, forming most likely a PtSe₂ alloy with the CdI₂-type layered structure on the top surface. Due to the lateral lattice mismatch between the Pt(1 1 1) layers and the PtSe₂(1 1 1) top layer, a Moiré pattern with a period of 1.1 nm is created, which might be used as a long-range atomic pattern for further nanostructure growth.     

STM image visualization of Si(1 1 1) 7 × 7 surface (graphic simulation and implementation)

The possibilities of graphic STM image simulation of a clean Si(1 1 1) 7 × 7 surface at atomic level are indicated. The presented procedure takes into account various types of deformation on the surface near the Fermi level in order to classify them and explain their origin. It also gives a clear hint to insert relevant physical phenomena in a suggested analysis. This goal is achieved exploiting the results of DAS (dimmer adatom stacing fault) model by means of standard mathematical programmes. A clean Si(1 1 1) 7 × 7 surface is considered as the representative example, but similar evaluation is possible for another non-metal and metal surfaces.     

Thionicotinamide SAM on Gold: Adsorption Studies and Electroactivity

STM and impedance results of the self‐assembled monolayer (SAM) formed with thionicotinamide (TNA) on gold indicate the presence of defects that increase with the immersion time of the electrode in the TNA solution affecting the SAM electroactivity toward the electron transfer reaction of the cytochrome c metalloprotein and [Fe(CN)₆]^4? and [Ru(NH₃)₆]³⁺ complexes. It was observed that this electroactivity was also affected by the pH of the electrolyte solution. SERS and STM data indicate sulfur coordination to the surface with contribution of the NH₂ group. From the dependence of the TNA surface coverage on the temperature and concentration in solution, thermodynamic parameters of adsorption were determined.