Surface Science Studies

1. Surface Science Studies

2. Ultra High Vacuum (UHV) • units of pressure : • The SI unit of pressure is the Pascal ( 1 Pa = 1 N m-2 ) • Normal atmospheric pressure ( 1 atm.) is 101325 Pa or 1013 mbar ( 1 bar = 105 Pa ). • An older unit of pressure is the Torr ( 1 Torr = 1 mmHg ). One atmosphere is ca. 760 Torr ( i.e. 1 Torr = 133.3 Pa ). Virtually all surface studies are carried out under UHV conditions.

3. UHV Ultra high vacuum is required for most surface science experiments: To enable atomically clean surfaces to be prepared for study, and such surfaces to be maintained in a contamination-free state for the duration of the experiment. To permit the use of low energy electron and ion-based experimental techniques without undue interference from gas phase scattering.

4. Collisions with surfaces Gas Density The gas density is easily estimated from the ideal gas law : N = ( N / V ) = P / (k.T)        [ molecules m-3 ]

5. Incident Molecular Flux on Surfaces The incident flux is the number of incident molecules per unit time per unit area of surface. Can readily show that (see justification 21.4, Atkins & dePaula, 8th ):

6. From Maxwell Boltzmann(example 21.1, Atkins & de Paula, 8th)

7. Hertz-Knudsen Combining all three steps: [ molecules m-2 s-1 ]

8. How long will it take for a clean surface to become covered with a complete monolayer of adsorbate ? Try Attard & Barnes, p.23 and problem 4 All values given below are approximate and are generally dependent on factors such as temperature and molecular mass.

9. Mean Free Path Mean Free Path of Particles in the Gas Phase (see, for example, Atkins & de Paula, chapter 21, pp 752-5) - denoted by l , and for neutral molecules is given by the equation : m Try exercises at section 4.3 of http://www.chem.qmw.ac.uk/surfaces/scc/

10. Bcc(110) for problem in Attard & Barnes

11. Adsorbate Geometries • Hydrogen: Chemisorption is invariably dissociative. • Halogen: also dissociative (electronegativity difference between metal and halogen leads to electron transfer). Occupy high co-ordination sites on surfaces with strong ionic contribution 3-fold hollow site on fcc(111) surfaces and the 4-fold hollow site on fcc(100) surfaces

12. Oxygen and Nitrogen adsorption • Oxygen adsorbs associatively on some metals (Ag, Pt) • On most metal surfaces, dissociation of oxygen is observed to be facile • Once formed, oxygen atoms are strongly bound to the surface and, as noted previously, will tend to occupy the highest available co-ordination site • Interaction of nitrogen with metal surfaces shows many of the same characteristics as those described above for oxygen, but with lower tendency to dissociate

13. CO adsorption CO may adsorb either in a molecular form or in a dissociative fashion • On metals from the LHS of the periodic table adsorption invariably dissociative, leading to the formation of adsorbed carbon and oxygen atoms • On metals from the RHS of the d-block (e.g. Cu, Ag) the interaction is molecular • On majority of transition metals adsorption (dissociative v.'s molecular) is very sensitive to surface temperature and surface structure

14. Molecular adsorption of CO

15. Ammonia and other hydrides Ethene