Surface science acronyms

There are numerous surface-sensitive techniques that can be applied to the study of catalyst surfaces in fact, a complete treatment of these is beyond the scope of this discussion. Therefore, the reader is directed toward some excellent resources for a more complete discussion.1 26-29 Here, we aim only to introduce some of the more popular techniques as well as to familiarize the reader with the alphabet soup of surface-science acronyms that will be used below. 

From the above descriptions, it becomes apparent that one can include a wide variety of teclmiques under the label diffraction methods . Table Bl.21.1 lists many techniques used for surface stmctural detemiination, and specifies which can be considered diffraction methods due to their use of wave interference (table Bl.21.1 also explains many teclmique acronyms commonly used in surface science). The diffraction methods range from the classic case of XRD and the analogous case of FEED to much more subtle cases like XAFS (listed as both SEXAFS (surface extended XAFS) and NEXAFS (near-edge XAFS) in the table). 

EXAFS is part of the field of X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS), in which a number of acronyms abound. An X-ray absorption spectrum contains EXAFS data as well as the X-ray absorption near-edge structure, XANES (alternatively called the near-edge X-ray absorption fine structure, NEXAFS). The combination of XANES (NEXAFS) and EXAFS is commonly referred to as X-ray absorption fine structure, or XAFS. In applications of EXAFS to surface science, the acronym SEXAFS, for surface-EXAFS, is used. The principles and analysis of EXAFS and SEXAFS are the same. See the article following this one for a discussion of SEXAFS and NEXAFS. 

A wide range of techniques have been developed to study surfaces in vacuum, and many techniques are commonly referred to by acronyms. Table I lists acronyms and brief descriptions of most common techniques used in surface science. 

Table 1,1 lists many of the. surface science techniques that have been used iiiosi frt querjtly In recent years to Icam about the iritertace on the atomic scale, TTie names of the technique , their acronyms, and brief descriplions are provided, along with references, if a more detailed study of the capabilities and limitations of a panicuiar technique is desired. We also indicate the primary surface Infomtatton that can be obtained by the application of each technique. Detailed discussions of these tech niques are outside the scope of this book. The reader is referred to review papers that describe the principles of operation for each, the i ns tm mental ton, and some of... 

Information on some other techniques or acronyms, software for surface science studies, surface science databases, research centers and institutes, user groups and bulletin boards, academic research groups, teaching resources for surface science, conferences, commercials services and suppliers, sources of practical information, and also, a collection of links to lecture courses and tutorials covering a broad range of surface science can be found on web sites, e. g. http //www.uksaf.org and http //www.chem.qmw.ac.uk/surfaces/. 

Surface science has now been extended to include well over fifty examination techniques, spurred on by the rapidly developing field of semiconduetor deviees and assisted by the possibility of attaining ultra high vacuums (UHV). Appendix 13 lists the acronyms for these systems, but the field is too extensive to include all these teehniques. Therefore, a few which are most applicable to the study of carbon fibers, have been selected for discussion here. The intention is to briefly describe these techniques, with examples and findings pertinent to carbon fibers, highlighting their advantages and limitations, whilst the reader is referred to other publications for more detailed descriptions. 

This chapter summarizes the principles of some of the many spectroscopic techniques that are available for the analysis or study of aspects of adhesive bonding science and technology. As indicated in Table 1, there are dozens of techniques and new acronyms appear almost on a daily basis. The number of instrumental spectroscopies available today to the scientist is bewildering, especially the many techniques for surface characterization. Therefore, it is likely that some techniques have been missed, although it was attempted to cover them all, at least in Table 1. The choice of techniques from that listing that were actually discussed in this chapter had to be limited and was in some cases somewhat arbitrary and subjective. However, some emphasis was put on techniques that can be used in the study of the science of adhesive bonding technology. Techniques for routine analysis, e.g., NMR or the various mass spectrometries, were not discussed in depth. 

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