STRUCTURES, DEFECTS, CLUSTERS AND REACTIONS ON CERIA SURFACES
WG1 members: Michael Reichling, Reinhard Olbrich
homepage: reichling.physik.uos.de
NC-AFM image of an atomically resolved step edge structure on CeO2 (left) and its atomic model (right) revealing vacancy sites at step edges. Bright features on the terrace are adsorbed water molecules.
The group has a strong background in atomic resolution imaging of insulating surfaces with a focus on oxide surfaces like Al2O3, TiO2, ZnO, CeO2 and PrOx. Imaging the surface topography and atomic structure by non-contact atomic force microscopy (NC-AFM) and measuring local surface potentials with Kelvin probe force microscopy (KPFM) is complemented by studies of the surface electronic structure with ultraviolet photoelectron spectroscopy (UPS) and metastable impact electron spectroscopy (MIES). Research in the framework of the Action is focused on surfaces of CeO2 bulk crystals and thick films. Issues addressed are the atomic structure and polarity of step edges, the identification of point defects, surface reduction, the interaction of adsorbates and metal particles with the surface and surface reactions.
