Concentrations and velocity distributions of positive ions in laser ablation of copper

It is shown that the generation of secondary electrons by excited neutrals hitting a surface makes the so-called probe method unsuited for measuring the positive ion fraction in laser ablation plumes. Experiments have been performed in a modified set-up, in which the disturbance by secondary electrons is avoided. For a typical case of Cu irradiated in ultra-high vacuum by nanosecond excimer laser pulses of 3 J cm^–2 the ionized fraction is about 10^–8 at a distance of 60 cm. This number is in fair agreement with Saha-Langmuir predictions based on the assumption of local thermal equilibrium at an estimated temperature of about 3000K. Angular-resolved time-of-flight measurements show that there are three different ion velocity distributions. A slow contribution (kinetic energy 2eV) with an angular distribution peaked along the normal, and two fast, isotropic contributions (kinetic energy 20–50 eV). The fast contributions are attributed to ions involved in a Coulomb explosion.     

The outermost atomic layer of thin films of fluorinated polymethacrylates

In this paper, we investigate the surface properties of a series of copolymers of perfluoroalkyl methacrylate (CH2 = C(CH3)COOCH2CnF(2n + 1), n = 1, 6, or 10) and methyl methacrylate (MMA) and of blends of perfluorooctyl-end-capped poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) and pure PMMA. The introduction of perfluoroalkyl groups significantly lowers the polymer surface energy as determined by the acid-base approach. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) confirms a higher fluorine concentration in the surface region (the outer 3.8 nm) as compared to in the bulk. The fluorine density in the outermost atomic layer is quantitatively determined by low-energy ion scattering (LEIS). A linear relationship is found between the fluorine density in the outermost atomic layer and the surface energy of the partially fluorinated polymethacrylates, irrespective of the length of the perfluoroalkyl chain. This linearity confirms Langmuir's "principle of independent surface action". Deviation from this linear relationship exists for both highly and sparsely fluorinated polymethacrylates and can be ascribed to the local (surface) ordering of the fluorinated tails and MMA units, respectively. This study may offer one further step toward a deeper understanding of the correlations between macroscopic surface properties and microscopic surface chemical composition.     

Substitutional adsorption of K on Fe(100)

The adsorption of potassium on Fe(100) was studied by time-of-flight forward scattering and recoiling spectroscopy (TOF-SARS), low energy electron diffraction (LEED) and Auger electron spectroscopy (AES). After heating to 650 K of the potassium saturated surface the formation of a p(3 × 3) potassium superstructure was observed by LEED. TOF-SARS experiments ruled out the adsorption of potassium in the on-top, bridge and four-fold hollow site. The only site which is in agreement with all experimental results is the substitutional site where K replaces an Fe atom of the topmost layer of the crystal. This is the first time a substitutional adsorption site has been found on a bcc surface. On an fcc surface such an adsorption site has been found recently for adsorption of sodium and potassium on Al(111).     

The isotope exchange depth profiling (IEDP) technique using SIMS and LEIS

The determination of the mass transport kinetics of oxide materials for use in electrochemical systems such as fuel cells, sensors and oxygen separators is a significant challenge. Several techniques have been proposed to derive these data experimentally with only the oxygen isotope exchange depth profile technique coupled with secondary ion mass spectrometry (SIMS) providing a direct measure of these kinetic parameters. Whilst this allows kinetic information to be obtained, there is a lack of knowledge of the surface chemistry of these complex processes. The advent of low-energy ion scattering (LEIS) now offers the opportunity of correlating exchange kinetics with chemical processes at materials atomic surfaces, giving unprecedented levels of information on electrochemical systems with isotopic discrimination. Here, the challenges of these techniques, including sample preparation, are discussed and the advantages of the combined approach of SIMS and LEIS illustrated with reference to key literature data.     

Selected topics in low-energy ion scattering: Surface segregation in Cu/Ni alloys and ion neutralization

The usefulness of ion scattering for studies of surface segregation in alloys has been demonstrated for the Cu/Ni system. A strong surface enrichment in Cu is found. As a step towards understanding the mechanism of neutralization of ions at a surface, the scattering of Ne⁺ from Au has been studied. The importance and origin of oscillations in the energy dependence of the ion fraction is discussed.     

Triplet π → π* and π → π* transitions in glyoxal and biacetyl by low-energy electron-impact spectroscopy

Low-energy electron-impact excitation spectra are presented for glyoxal and biacetyl Several triplet states have been located. Assignments are suggested for some transitions at the high-energy sides of the spectra.     

Metal-dielectric-metal plasmonic waveguide devices for manipulating light at the nanoscale Invited Paper

We review some of the recent advances in the development of subwavelength plasmonic devices for ma- nipulating light at the nanoscale, drawing examples from our own work in metal-dielectric-metal (MDM) plasmonic waveguide devices. We introduce bends, splitters, and mode converters for MDM waveguides with no additional loss. We also demonstrate that optical gain provides a mechanism for on/off switch- ing in MDM plasmonie waveguides. Highly efficient compact couplers between dielectric waveguides and MDM waveguides are also introduced.     

Degradation effects in polymer light emitting devices due to heat treatment

The characteristics of polymer light emitting diodes (PLEDs) (ITO/PPV/Ca) depend strongly on the conditions during preparation and operation. We studied the effects of heat treatment (during and after preparation) of PLEDs with OC₁C₁₀-PPV as active layer. PLEDs showed a reduction of both the current and the light output to 40 % after annealing for only 30 min at 65 °C. Effects on I-V characteristics were studied by measuring single carrier devices (hole- and electron-dominated devices). The current reduction after heat treatment can be ascribed to degradation of the ITO/PPV and the Ca/PPV interfaces.     

Roles of surface Te, Nb, and Sb oxides in propane oxidation to acrylic acid over bulk orthorhombic Mo-V-O phase

The outermost surfaces and subsurface layers of the orthorhombic (M1) Mo-V-O catalysts promoted with Te, Nb, and Sb oxide species at submonolayer surface coverage were examined by low-energy ion scattering (LEIS). This study indicated that the Nb oxide species was preferentially located at the topmost surface, while the subsurface Te and Sb concentrations declined gradually into the bulk. Although the original Mo-V-O catalyst was essentially unselective in propane oxidation to acrylic acid, significant improvement in the selectivity to acrylic acid was observed when Te, Nb, and Sb oxides were present as the surface species at submonolayer coverage. These findings further suggested that the formation of the surface V-O-M bonds (M = Nb, Te, or Sb) was highly beneficial for both the activity and selectivity of the orthorhombic Mo-V-O catalysts in propane oxidation to acrylic acid. The highest selectivity was observed when both Nb and Te (or Sb) oxide species were present at the surface. The selectivity trends established for the surface-promoted Mo-V-O catalyst parallel those found previously for the corresponding bulk Mo-V-M-O catalysts. These results further indicated that the introduction of surface metal oxide species is a highly promising method to prepare well-defined model catalysts for studies of the structure-activity/selectivity relationships as well as optimize the catalytic performance of the bulk mixed Mo-V-M-O catalysts for selective (amm)oxidation of propane.