Experimental Observation of Quantum Oscillation of Surface Chemical Reactivities

Overview

Journal Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A

Specialty Science

Date 2007 May 23

PMID 17517632

Citations 2

Authors

Xucun Ma

Peng Jiang

Yun Qi

Jinfeng Jia

Yu Yang

Wenhui Duan

Wei-Xue Li

Xinhe Bao

S B Zhang

Qi-Kun Xue

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Here we present direct observation of a quantum reactivity with respect to the amounts of O(2) adsorbed and the rates of surface oxidation as a function of film thickness on ultrathin (2-6 nm) Pb mesas by scanning tunneling microscopy. Simultaneous spectroscopic measurements on the electronic structures reveal a quantum oscillation that originates from quantum well states of the mesas, as a generalization of the Fabry-Pérot modes of confined electron waves. We expect the quantum reactivity to be a general phenomenon for most ultrathin metal films with broad implications, such as nanostructure tuning of surface reactivities and rational design of heterogeneous catalysts.

Citing Articles

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Koroteev Y, Silkin I, Silkin V, Chulkov E Materials (Basel). 2024; 17(1).

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Quantum size effects on the work function of metallic thin film nanostructures.

Kim J, Qin S, Yao W, Niu Q, Chou M, Shih C Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2010; 107(29):12761-5.

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