Surface charge microscopy: novel technique for mapping charge-mosaic surfaces in electrolyte solutions

The effective surface potential, called the zeta potential, is commonly determined from electrophoretic mobility measurements for particles moving in a solution in response to an electric field applied between two electrodes. The situation can be reversed, with the solution being forced to flow through a plug of packed particles, and the streaming potential of the particles can be calculated. A significant limitation of these electrokinetic measurements is that only an average value of the zeta potential/streaming potential is measured--regardless of whether the surface charge distribution is homogeneous or otherwise. However, in real-world situations, nearly all solids (and liquids) of technological significance exhibit surface heterogeneities. To detect heterogeneities in surface charge, analytical tools which provide accurate and spatially resolved information about the material surface potential--particularly at microscopic and submicroscopic resolutions--are needed. In this study, atomic force microscopy (AFM) was used to measure the surface interaction forces between a silicon nitride AFM cantilever and a multiphase volcanic rock. The experiments were conducted in electrolyte solutions with different ionic strengths and pH values. The colloidal force measurements were carried out stepwise across the boundary between adjacent phases. At each location, the force-distance curves were recorded. Surface charge densities were then calculated by fitting the experimental data with a DLVO theoretical model. Significant differences between the surface charge densities of the two phases and gradual transitions in the surface charge density at the interface were observed. It is demonstrated that this novel technique can be applied to examine one- and two-dimensional distributions of the surface potential.     

X-ray study of the electric double layer at the n-hexane/nanocolloidal silica interface

The spatial structure of the transition region between an insulator and an electrolyte solution was studied with x-ray scattering. The electron-density profile across the n-hexane/silica sol interface (solutions with 5, 7, and 12 nm colloidal particles) agrees with the theory of the electrical double layer and shows separation of positive and negative charges. The interface consists of three layers, i.e., a compact layer of Na(+), a loose monolayer of nanocolloidal particles as part of a thick diffuse layer, and a low-density layer sandwiched between them. Its structure is described by a model in which the potential gradient at the interface reflects the difference in the potentials of "image forces" between the cationic Na(+) and anionic nanoparticles and the specific adsorption of surface charge. The density of water in the large electric field (approximately 10(9)-10(10) Vm) of the transition region and the layering of silica in the diffuse layer is discussed.     

Electronic structure and reduction processes in PtOx films

The electronic structure of various sputtered-deposited PtO films is probed using double-beam photoemission, optical absorption and electrical resistivity measurements: (i) Double-beam photoemission provides information on the density-of-states of the films in the vicinity of the Fermi level. (ii) Optical and resistivity measurements indicate that no intermediate PtO_x phase is seen during H₂ reduction of PtO₂ films.     

Molecularly controlled metal-semiconductor junctions on silicon surface: a dipole effect

Silicon surface was chemically modified by covalent attachment of homologous organic molecules having different dipole moments. Surface photovoltage measurements clearly confirm that organic molecules have a profound effect on surface band bending of semiconductor. Metal-molecules--silicon junctions were constituted for molecules belonging to ethynylbenzene series using soft mercury contact. These junctions show a systematic change in the electrical charge transport with dipole moment of molecules. Parameters such as ideality factor, barrier height, and density of interface states of various junctions are estimated to understand the role of organic molecules. These studies offer the prospect to develop molecular electronics, which may find potential applications in solar cells and chemical and biological sensors.     

Comparison between electrochemical and optoelectrochemical impedance measurements for detection of DNA hybridization

The principles of the electrochemical and optoelectrochemical impedance measurements on bare electrolyte/dielectric/semiconductor structures are described. The analysis of the experimental curves allows access to several indications concerning the electrical behavior of such structures. The application of these techniques to follow the electrical behavior of structures modified with two biological systems was investigated. The antibody/antigen recognition did not change the surface charge and, therefore, did not affect the impedance curves with respect to the applied potential. By contrast, the hybridization of two complementary DNA strands on the surface of the structure induced a variation of flat band potential of the semiconductor leading to a shift of impedance curves along the potential axis. This means that it is possible to detect directly the DNA hybridization without the use of labeled probes. The use of light allows the surface to be probed locally. In the future, the application of this technique for direct detection of hybridization on DNA chips should be possible.     

High-temperature 2D Fermi surface of SrTiO3 studied by energy-filtered PEEM

Functional oxides displaying phenomena such as 2D electron gas (2DEG) at oxide interfaces represent potential technological breakthroughs for post-CMOS (Complementary Metal Oxide Semiconductor) electronics. Noninvasive techniques are required to study the surface chemistry and electronic structure underlying their often unique electrical properties. The sensitivity of photoemission electron microscopy (PEEM) to local potential, chemistry, and electronic structure makes it an invaluable tool for probing the near surface region of microscopic regions and domains of functional materials. In particular, PEEM allows single shot acquisition of the 2D Fermi surface and full angular probing of the symmetry-induced intensity modulations. We present results demonstrating a 2DEG at the surface of SrTiO₃(001) at 140 K. The 2DEG is created by soft X-ray irradiation and can be reversibly controlled by a combination of soft X-rays and oxygen partial pressure.     

Surface analysis insight note: Synthetic line shapes,integration regions and relative sensitivity factors

Methods for estimating photoemission intensity from X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy data are examined. The role played by “synthetic” bell-shaped curves, integration intervals, background curves, and the use of relative sensitivity factors (RSFs) in reporting percentage atomic concentration for a sample is presented. In particular, photoemission lines with differing energy distributions obtained from the NaCl sample surface are used to demonstrate how a comparison of photoemission intensities is dependent on the line shapes, background curves, and appropriate use of RSFs.     

氧化锡多晶电导的氧空位控制模型

SnO_2、ZnO等金属氧化物的气敏特性通常以它们在不同气氛中电导值的变化来体现。为弄清这类多晶材料及气敏元件电导变化的基本规律,本文根据表面势垒控制模型和晶界势垒控制模型讨论了氧空位密度对SnO_2多晶材料及气敏元件电导值的重要影响,并根据SnO_2多晶电导的氧空位控制模型,讨论了在不同烧结条件下元件电导的变化规律,并用X光电子能谱(XPS)对结果进行了分析。     

Quantifying the effect of membrane potential in chemical osmosis across bentonite membranes by virtual short-circuiting

Clay liners are charged membranes and show semipermeable behavior regarding the flow of fluids, electrical charge, chemicals and heat. At zero gradients of temperature and hydrostatic pressure, a salt concentration gradient across a compacted clay sample induces not only an osmotic flux of water and diffusion of salt across the membrane but also an electrical potential gradient, defined as membrane potential. Laboratory experiments were performed on commercially available bentonite samples in a rigid-wall permeameter connected to two electrically insulated fluid reservoirs filled with NaCl solutions of different concentrations and equipped with Ag/AgCl electrodes to measure the electrical potential gradient. The effect of membrane potential could be cancelled out by short-circuiting the clay with the so-called virtual shortcut. The potential gradient across the sample is brought to zero with a negative feedback circuit. It was observed that the water flux and the diffusion of Cl- were hindered by the occurrence of a membrane potential, indicating that an electroosmotic counterflow is induced. Flow parameters were calculated with modified coupled flow equations of irreversible thermodynamics. They were in excellent agreement with values reported in the literature. Comparing the method of short-circuiting with a study elsewhere, where the electrodes were physically short-circuited, it was shown that the virtual shortcut is more appropriate because physically short-circuiting induces additional effects that are attributed to the fluxes.     

利用Langmuir-Blodgett技术构筑表面微结构的方法

由于表面纳/微结构在微电子和生物学等领域有着广泛的应用前景,其构筑方法引起了人们越来越多的关注。目前已经发展出了多种表面纳/微结构的构筑方法,然而在大面积上构筑表面结构仍然是一个非常重要的研究课题。自组装技术作为一种无模板的构筑方法,在这方面发挥了重要作用。本文着重介绍了近年来利用Langmuir-Blodgett（LB）技术在表面图案化中的应用。文中介绍了纳/微米级条带结构、岛状结构及纳米线状结构的构筑方法,其中条带结构的形成方向可以平行或垂直LB膜的转移方向。这些结构的构筑不仅可以用传统的两亲性分子,还可以用纳米粒子和纳米线等作为构筑材料。同时简单介绍了以LB技术构筑的表面纳/微米级结构在不同领域中的应用。     

拓扑绝缘体二维纳米结构与器件

拓扑绝缘体是一种全新的量子功能材料, 具有绝缘性体能带结构和受时间反演对称性保护的自旋分辨的金属表面态, 属于Dirac 粒子系统, 将在新原理纳电子器件、自旋器件、量子计算、表面催化和清洁能源等方面有广泛的应用前景. 理论和实验相继证实Sb₂Te₃, Bi₂Se₃和Bi₂Te₃单晶具有较大的体能隙和单一Dirac 锥表面态, 已经迅速成为了拓扑绝缘体研究中的热点材料. 然而, 利用传统的高温烧结法所制成的拓扑绝缘体单晶块体样品常存在大量本征缺陷并被严重掺杂, 拓扑表面态的新奇性质很容易被体载流子掩盖. 拓扑绝缘体二维纳米结构具有超高比表面积和能带结构的可调控性, 能显著降低体态载流子的比例和凸显拓扑表面态, 并易于制备高结晶质量的单晶样品, 各种低维异质结构以及平面器件. 近年来, 我们一直致力于发展拓扑绝缘体二维纳米结构的控制生长方法和物性研究. 我们发展了拓扑绝缘体二维纳米结构的范德华外延方法, 实现了高质量大比表面积的拓扑绝缘体二维纳米结构的可控制备, 并实现了定点与定向的表面生长. 开展拓扑绝缘体二维纳米结构的谱学研究, 利用角分辨光电子能谱直接观察到拓扑绝缘体狄拉克锥形的表面电子能带结构, 发现了拉曼强度与位移随层数的依赖关系. 设计并构建拓扑绝缘体纳米结构器件, 系统研究其新奇物性, 观测到拓扑绝缘体Bi₂Se₃表面态的Aharonov-Bohm (AB)量子干涉效应等新奇量子现象, 通过栅电压实现了拓扑绝缘体纳米薄片化学势的调控, 并将拓扑绝缘体纳米结构应用于柔性透明导电薄膜. 本文首先简单介绍拓扑绝缘体的发展现状, 然后系统介绍我们开展的拓扑绝缘体二维纳米结构的范德华外延生长、谱学、电学输运特性以及透明柔性导电薄膜应用的研究, 最后对该领域所面临的机遇和挑战进行简要的展望.     

Inverse photoemission from metal surfaces

Ultraviolet inverse photoemission spectroscopy (IPES) is a technique for exploring unoccupied electronic states, particularly in the energy range between the Fermi level and vacuum level, a range inaccessible in ordinary photoemission. Theories of inverse photoemission and its special instrumentation requirements are outlined. IPES measurements on clean metal surfaces have revealed an abundance of new Shockley surface states and the Rydberg series of image states converging on the vacuum level. Empty surface states of d-like character have also been seen. The systematics of the occurrence of surface states (including image states) associated with s,p bulk band gaps are well described by a simple adaptation of multiple-reflection theory. This model is propounded and its implications discussed with regard to effective masses, surface corrugation, and determination of the surface barrier potential. IPES measurements on adsorbate-covered metal surfaces have revealed antibonding levels (O on Ni surfaces being the prime example) and valuable information on empty molecular levels (the 2π state in adsorbed CO and NO being the prime example). A straightforward Blyholder interpretation is modified by considerations of electronic relaxation and screening in the emission process. We compare and contrast the role of these effects in photoemission and inverse photoemission. Polarization selection rules and molecular shape resonances are also discussed.     

Insight into the improvement mechanism of Co−Pi-modified hematite nanowire photoanodes for solar water oxidation

The composite photoanodes composed by cobalt phosphate catalyst (Co−Pi) modified semiconductor have been widely used for solar water splitting, but the improvement mechanism has not been experimentally confirmed. Here we use transient photoelectrochemical measurements and impedance spectroscopy to investigate the effect of Co−Pi catalyst on hematite nanowire photoanode. It is found that under illumination the Co−Pi catalyst can efficiently promote the transfer of photo-generated holes to the Co−Pi layer by increasing the electrical conductivity of the composite structure under a low potential. The Co−Pi catalyst can recombine with photo-generated electrons to reduce the surface recombination efficiency of photo-generated holes and electrons under a high potential. These results provide important new understanding of the performance improvement mechanism for the Co−Pi-modified semiconductor nanowire composite photoanodes.     

Direct imaging and probing of the p-n junction in a planar polymer light-emitting electrochemical cell

A vast array of semiconductor applications relies on the ability to dope the materials by the controlled introduction of impurities in order to achieve desired charge carrier concentration and conduction type. In this way, various functional metal/semiconductor or semiconductor/semiconductor junctions can be constructed for device applications. Conjugated polymers are organic semiconductors that can be electrochemically doped to form a dynamic p-n junction. The electronic structure and even the existence of such a polymer p-n junction had been the subject of intense scrutiny and debate. In this work, the formation of the world's largest frozen polymer p-n junction and its light-emission are visualized. With a pair of micromanipulated probes, we mapped the potential distribution of the p-n junction under bias across the entire interelectrode gap of over 10 mm. Site-selective current-voltage measurements reveal that the polymer junction is a graded p-n junction, with a much more conductive p region than n region.     

Controlled synthesis of topological insulator nanoplate arrays on mica

The orientation- and position-controlled synthesis of single-crystal topological insulator (Bi(2)Se(3) and Bi(2)Te(3)) nanoplate arrays on mica substrates was achieved using van der Waals epitaxy. Individual ultrathin nanoplates with the lateral dimension up to ~0.1 mm or uniform thickness down to 1-2 nm were produced. Single-Dirac-cone surface states of nanoplate aggregates were confirmed by angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy measurements. The large-grain-size, single-crystal nanoplate arrays grown on mica can act as facile platforms for a combination of spectroscopy and in situ transport measurements, which may open up new avenues for studying exotic physical phenomena, surface chemical reactions, and modification in topological insulators.     

Transferable atom equivalent multicentered multipole expansion method

The transferability of atomic and functional group properties is an implicit concept in chemistry. The work presented here describes the use of Transferable Atom Equivalents (TAE) to represent molecular electrostatic potential fields through the use of integrated atomic multipole moments that are associated with each TAE atom type used in the reconstruction. TAE molecular surface distributions of electrostatic potentials are compared with analytical ab initio and empirical (Gasteiger) partial charge reference models for several conformations of test peptides. Surface electrostatic potential distributions computed using TAE multipole representations were found to converge at the octopole level, with incremental improvement observed when hexadecapoles were included. Molecular electrostatic potential fields that were produced using the TAE method were observed to be responsive to conformational changes and to compare well with ab initio reference distributions. Generation of TAE atom types and their associated multipoles does not involve fitting to sample electrostatic potential fields, but rather utilizes integrated AIM atomic electron density distributions within representative chemical environments. The RECON program was used for TAE reconstruction. RECON is capable of processing 5,000 drug-sized molecules or 25 proteins per minute per 1.7 GHz P4 Linux processor.     

Electronic structure of the organic semiconductor copper phthalocyanine: experiment and theory

The electronic structure of the organic semiconductor copper-phthalocyanine (CuPc) has been determined by a combination of conventional and resonant photoemission, near-edge x-ray absorption, as well as by the first-principles calculations. The experimentally obtained electronic valence band structure of CuPc is in very good agreement with the calculated density of states results, allowing the derivation of detailed site specific information.     

Controlling semiconductor/metal junction barriers by incomplete, nonideal molecular monolayers

We study how partial monolayers of molecular dipoles at semiconductor/metal interfaces can affect electrical transport across these interfaces, using a series of molecules with systematically varying dipole moment, adsorbed on n-GaAs, prior to Au or Pd metal contact deposition, by indirect evaporation or as "ready-made" pads. From analyses of the molecularly modified surfaces, we find that molecular coverage is poorer on low- than on high-doped n-GaAs. Electrical charge transport across the resulting interfaces was studied by current-voltage-temperature, internal photoemission, and capacitance-voltage measurements. The data were analyzed and compared with numerical simulations of interfaces that present inhomogeneous barriers for electron transport across them. For high-doped GaAs, we confirm that only the former, molecular dipole-dependent barrier is found. Although no clear molecular effects appear to exist with low-doped n-GaAs, those data are well explained by two coexisting barriers for electron transport, one with clear systematic dependence on molecular dipole (molecule-controlled regions) and a constant one (molecule-free regions, pinholes). This explains why directly observable molecular control over the barrier height is found with high-doped GaAs: there, the monolayer pinholes are small enough for their electronic effect not to be felt (they are "pinched off"). We conclude that molecules can control and tailor electronic devices need not form high-quality monolayers, bind chemically to both electrodes, or form multilayers to achieve complete surface coverage. Furthermore, the problem of stability during electron transport is significantly alleviated with molecular control via partial molecule coverage, as most current flows now between, rather than via, the molecules.     

Mechanism of electrochemical reduction of hydrogen peroxide on copper in acidic sulfate solutions

Hydrogen peroxide is a commonly used oxidizer component in chemical mechanical planarization slurries, used in the processing of Cu metallization in microelectronics applications. We studied the electrochemical reduction of hydrogen peroxide on Cu in 0.1 M H2SO4 solutions using methods including cyclic voltammetry, rotating disk electrode experiments, surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy, and density functional theory (DFT) calculations. The spectroscopy reveals that the hydrogen peroxide molecule is reduced at negative potentials to form a Cu-OH surface species in acidic solutions, a result consistent with the insight from Tafel slope measurements. DFT calculations support the instability of peroxide relative to the surface-coordinated hydroxide on both Cu(111) and Cu(100) surfaces.     

Femtosecond time-resolved two-photon photoemission studies of electron dynamics in metals

Electron-hole excitation and relaxation in the bulk, at interfaces, and surfaces of solid state materials play a key role in a variety of physical and chemical phenomena that are important for surface photochemistry, particle-surface interactions, and device physics. Information on charge carrier relaxation in metals can be obtained through analysis of linewidths measured by photoemission and related techniques, which give an estimate of the upper limit for electron and hole relaxation; however, many factors can contribute to spectral broadening, thus it is difficult to extract specific information on electronic relaxation processes. With femtosecond lasers it is possible to probe directly in a time-resolved fashion the charge carrier dynamics in metals by a variety of linear and nonlinear optical techniques. Femtosecond time-resolved two-photon photoemission has attracted particularly strong interest because it incorporates many of the surface analytical capabilities of photoemission and inverse photoemission — the traditional probes for surface and bulk band structures of solid state materials — with time-resolution that is approaching the fundamental response of electrons to optical excitation. Advances in the direct measurements of electron-hole excitation, charge carrier relaxation, and dynamics of intrinsic and adsorbate induced surface states are reviewed. With femtosecond lasers it also is possible to probe a variety of coherent phenomena, and even to control the charge carrier dynamics in metals through the optical phase of the excitation light. Pioneering experiments in this new field also are discussed.