The oxidation of Fe(111)

The oxidation of Fe(111) was studied using Auger electron spectroscopy (AES), low energy electron diffraction (LEED), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), ion scattering spectroscopy (ISS) and scanning tunnelling microscopy (STM). Oxidation of the crystal was found to be a very fast process, even at 200 K, and the Auger O signal saturation level is reached within ~ 50 × 10^? 6 mbar s. Annealing the oxidised surface at 773 K causes a significant decline in apparent surface oxygen concentration and produces a clear (6 × 6) LEED pattern, whereas after oxidation at ambient temperature no pattern was observed. STM results indicate that the oxygen signal was reduced due to the nucleation of large, but sparsely distributed oxide islands, leaving mainly the smooth (6 × 6) structure between the islands. The reactivity of the (6 × 6) layer towards methanol was investigated using temperature programmed desorption (TPD), which showed mainly decomposition to CO and CO₂, due to the production of formate intermediates on the surface. Interestingly, this removes the (6 × 6) structure by reduction, but it can be reformed from the sink of oxygen present in the large oxide islands simply by annealing at 773 K for a few minutes. The (6 × 6) appears to be a relatively stable, pseudo-oxide phase, that may be useful as a model oxide surface.     

Interaction of carbon dioxide with Fe(110), stepped Fe(100) and Fe(111)

The adsorption of CO₂ on single crystal surfaces of Fe(110), regularly stepped Fe(110) and Fe(111) in the temperature range between 77 and 340 K was studied by means of He(I) UPS and measurements of the change in work function. The smooth Fe(110) face proved to be completely inactive with respect to CO₂ adsorption. On a stepped Fe(110) and an Fe(111) face CO₂ is adsorbed at 77 K in the form of a linear molecule and in the form of a species the nature of which is not yet clarified. This latter form is predominant at 140 K. With increasing temperature decomposition into CO and O and finally into C and O takes place.     

Superparamagnetism in small Fe clusters on Cu(111)

Fe clusters of 105±2 atoms/cluster were mass selectively deposited onto Cu(111) at cryogenic temperatures. XMCD was used to measure temperature and direction dependent magnetization curves. The clusters are superparamagnetic at the lowest temperature measured (10 K). Their magnetization curves are consistent with magnetic moments of ≈2.5μ_B per atom which are thus enhanced over the bulk values. Within experimental accuracy, the clusters do not present magnetocrystalline anisotropy in the temperature range of 10 K to 60 K.     

Magnetic properties of (111) Cu/Fe multilayers

The magnetic properties of (111) Cu/Fe multilayers grown on Cu underlayers of several thickness (2000-500-50 Å) on cleaved mica have been investigated by Mössbauer spectroscopy and SQUID magnetometry. The analysis of experimental results suggests that 2.5 monolayers of ψ-Fe interfaced with Cu evolves partially from paramagnetic to ferromagnetic states as the Cu underlayer thickness is reduced to 50 Å and partially from weak to strong antiferromagnetism.     

Interaction of Co with an Fe(111) surface

Adsorption of CO on Fe(111) below 300 K causes the appearance of three different non-dissociated species as distinguished by their CO stretch frequencies of about 1530 cm^-1 (a), 1800 cm^-1 (b), and 2000 cm^-1 (c). At T ? 220 K the b-state is first filled up and saturates after 1.5 L exposure; upon increasing the temperature it partly desorbs around 400 K and partly dissociates. Recombination of the C and O atoms followed by CO desorption takes place at about 800 K. Above 1.5 L exposure the a- and c-states are occupied simultaneously; in the thermal desorption spectrum in turn they show up as a relatively broad shoulder at ～ 340 K, which indicates similar adsorption energies for these two species. Saturation of the surface is reached after about 6 L exposure, which is paralleled by a continuous work function increase of up to Δφ = 1.6 eV. A high background intensity in the LEED pattern suggests substantial disorder in the adlayer. Evaluation of the TDS data yields about 2:1 population of the b- and (c + a)-states. The unusual low CO frequency of the a-state finds its analogues in reports on CO adsorption at stepped surfaces, as well as with complex compounds where the π-orbitals of the ligand directly interact with a neighboring metal atom. This species is therefore identified with adsorption in the “deep hollow” sites on the rather open Fe(111) surface. The b-state is tentatively attributed to the “shallow hollow” sites, and the c-state to adsorption on the “on top” sites.     

H2O分子在Fe(100), Fe(110), Fe(111)表面吸附的第一性原理研究

采用第一性原理研究了H2O分子在Fe(100),Fe(110),Fe(111)三个高对称晶面上的表面吸附.结果表明,H2O分子在三个晶面上的最稳定结构皆为平行于基底表面的顶位吸附结构.H2O分子与三个晶面相互作用的吸附能及几何结构计算结果表明H2O分子与三个晶面的相互作用程度不同,H2O分子与Fe(111)晶面的相互作用最强,其次是Fe(100),相互作用最弱的是Fe(110)表面,而这与晶面原子的排列密度相关.吸附体系的电子结构计算结果也得出了相似的结论.同时电荷布居分析表明,H2O分子与Fe表面相互作用时,O原子与基底原子之间的电荷交换使基底Fe原子表面带负电,导致表面电位降低,也促使Fe表面更易于发生电化学腐蚀反应.     

The interaction of hydrazine with an Fe(111) surface

The interaction of hydrazine with a clean and nitrogen precovered Fe(111) surface was investigated in the temperature range of 126–600 K by means of UV and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (PES). At temperatures below 170 K the molecular adsorption of hydrazine is followed by multilayer condensation. In going from adsorbed to condensed hydrazine the valence and core levels shift in different directions relative to the vertical gas phase ionisation energies indicating strong interactions via hydrogen bonding in the condensed phase. Dissociative adsorption of N₂H₄ was observed at temperatures above 220 K. At room temperature no difference in the photoelectron spectra following the adsorption of N₂H₄ or NH₃ was observed indicating the presence of the same surface species, predominantly being -NH₂ radicals. Preadsorbed nitrogen stabilizes N₂H₄ against decomposition. The results will be discussed in view of possible intermediates in the ammonia-synthesis reaction on iron. Simple thermochemical arguments are presented to explain the observed difference in the heterogeneous dissociation mechanism of hydrazine on transition metals. General conclusions on the mechanism of ammonia synthesis on various transition metals can also be derived from these thermodynamic considerations.     

Ab initio investigation of the clustering of carbon adatoms on Fe(001) and Fe(111) surfaces

A theoretical investigation of the interaction between carbon adatoms on the Fe(001) and Fe( 111 ) surfaces is performed using ab initio calculations in terms of density functional theory. Calc ulations of the adsorption energy demonstrate the existence of a strong bonding between single carbon adatoms and the iron surface. An analysis of the calculated energies of the interaction between carbon adatoms reveals for the first time that the repulsion between the carbon adatoms located at the nearest neighbor sites on the Fe(001) surface occurs and that clusters with a looser packing are formed on the surface.     

Magnetic and structural properties of Fe(110)/Ag(111) and Fe(100)/Ag(100) multilayers

A comparison of the magnetic and structural properties and growth characteristics between Fe(110)/Ag(111) and Fe(100)/Ag(100) multilayers is presented. The two types of multilayers were made of the same constituent materials but with different oricutations, allowing us to examine the interesting interplay between structure and magnetism. We found fundamentally different magnetic properties including magnetocrystalline anisotropy and surface/interface and thin film magnetism for the two types of multilayers, and their origins were discussed. Presently at the Naval Research Laboratory. Presently at Argonne National Laboratory.     

Interaction of acetylene and ethylene with an Fe(111) surface

The chemisorption of C₂H₂ and C₂H₄ on a clean or partly C- or O-covered Fe(111) surface was investigated with AES, TDS and HREELS. On the clean surface, both molecules adsorb under strong rehybridization close to sp³. Above 230 K, C₂H₂ reacts to form CH and presumably CH₂ as the main products, which on further heating decompose to yield H₂ desorption maxima at 580 and 490 K, leaving two carbon species on the surface which correspond to two loss peaks at 400 and 1290 cm^?1 in the HREELS spectrum. C₂H₄ undergoes very rapid decomposition above 250 K; no intermediates have been detected. The presence of coadsorbed oxygen or carbon atoms only reduced the maximum uptake of C₂H₂, but led to the appearance of new molecular adsorption states of C₂H₄ and inhibited C₂H₄ decomposition.     

Frozen low-spin interface in ultrathin Fe films on Cu(111)

In ultrathin film systems, it is a major challenge to understand how a thickness-driven phase transition proceeds along the cross-sectional direction of the films. We use ultrathin Fe films on Cu(111) as a prototype system to demonstrate how to obtain such information using an in situ scanning tunneling microscope and the surface magneto-optical Kerr effect. The magnetization depth profile of a thickness-driven low-spin to high-spin magnetic phase transition is deduced from the experimental data, which leads us to conclude that a low-spin Fe layer at the Fe/Cu interface stays live upon the phase transition. The magnetically live low-spin phase is believed to be induced by a frozen fcc Fe layer that survives a thickness-driven fcc-->bcc structural transition.     

Effect of impurities on the surface morphology of Fe(111)

The surface composition and morphology of Fe(111) have been examined through a combined analysis that includes low-energy electron diffraction (LEED), Auger electron spectroscopy (AES), and scanning tunneling microscopy (STM). The preferential segregation of sulfur has been clearly identified by AES upon annealing. The STM images exhibit numerous triangular pits of various sizes, and the LEED patterns show diffused n × 1 spots. The triangular pits reveal a Sierpinski gasket fractal. For sulfur-free Fe(111), nitrogen segregates to the surface upon annealing, forming a 4√3 × 4√3 superstructure that is identified by LEED patterns and STM images. The STM images show nanoscale triangular clusters regularly aligned in a hexagonal 4√3 × 4√3 configuration. Ultra-thin chromium film deposited on a nitrogen-segregated Fe(111) surface with post-annealing induces further nitrogen segregation, resulting in the formation of triangular pyramid-shaped CrN nanoclusters.     

硫在Fe(111)面吸附的密度泛函研究

采用基于密度泛函理论的第一性原理方法,系统研究了不同覆盖度下硫在Fe(111)表面的吸附构型和吸附特性,计算并分析了硫在Fe(111)表面的吸附能、电荷密度、分波态密度、电荷布局、电子局域化函数等数据.研究结果表明:S在Fe(111)面的H位吸附最稳定,并且吸附能随着覆盖度的增加而增加.另外,电子态密度、电子局域化函数和布局分析表明Fe、S之间呈较弱的共价键,这种作用力主要是Fe的3d轨道和S的3p轨道杂化所贡献,而随着覆盖度的增加,Fe、S之间的作用力逐渐减弱,这可能是由于S原子之间的排斥力减弱了Fe、S之间的作用.S在Fe(111)、Fe(110)和Fe(100)这三个晶面上吸附情况的对比分析发现,S与Fe(111)表面的相互作用最强,Fe(100)面次之,而Fe(110)面最弱.     

Tight-binding approach to field desorption: N2 ON Fe(111)

We present a tight-binding cluster calculation including interatomic Coulomb repulsion for field-induced adsorption and desorption. For electric field strengths F up to the desorption threshold $\text{F ～ 1.5}\text{V}\text{A}\text{?}$ for N₂ on Fe(111) we calculate total potential energy surfaces. The variation of the Schottky barrier and of the N₂ vibrational frequency is extracted as a function of F.