Surface science outline

Surfaces are investigated with surface-sensitive teclmiques in order to elucidate fiindamental infonnation. The approach most often used is to employ a variety of techniques to investigate a particular materials system. As each teclmique provides only a limited amount of infonnation, results from many teclmiques must be correlated in order to obtain a comprehensive understanding of surface properties. In section A 1.7.5. methods for the experimental analysis of surfaces in vacuum are outlined. Note that the interactions of various kinds of particles with surfaces are a critical component of these teclmiques. In addition, one of the more mteresting aspects of surface science is to use the tools available, such as electron, ion or laser beams, or even the tip of a scaiming probe instrument, to modify a surface at the atomic scale. The physics of the interactions of particles with surfaces and the kinds of modifications that can be made to surfaces are an integral part of this section. 

In the future, we need to develop ways to apply novel and more sophisticated surface science techniques, such as the soft X-ray spectroscopies outlined in Chapter 2, to electrified interfaces under realistic conditions. For example, atom-specific probing of the occupied and unoccupied electronic states of electrochemical surface intermediates during the electrocatalytic reactions described in the present chapter has not been achieved to date. Modern synchrotron-based soft X-ray methods will aid these efforts to obtain more insight into the bonding of electrochemical intermediates. 

This unit will introduce two fundamental protocols—the Wilhelmy plate method (see Basic Protocol 1 and Alternate Protocol 1) and the du Noiiy ring method (see Alternate Protocol 2)—that can be used to determine static interfacial tension (Dukhin et al., 1995). Since the two methods use the same experimental setup, they will be discussed together. Two advanced protocols that have the capability to determine dynamic interfacial tension—the drop volume technique (see Basic Protocol 2) and the drop shape method (see Alternate Protocol 3)—will also be presented. The basic principles of each of these techniques will be briefly outlined in the Background Information. Critical Parameters as well as Time Considerations for the different tests will be discussed. References and Internet Resources are listed to provide a more in-depth understanding of each of these techniques and allow the reader to contact commercial vendors to obtain information about costs and availability of surface science instrumentation. 

In order to appreciate the different theoretical approaches of use in chemisorption theory, it is necessary to know some of the fundamental observations on chemisorption derived from surface science studies. Each theoretical method has its limitations, so it is also useful to have an idea of the current status of theoretical chemistry. In this section these two topics will be highlighted and an outline of the material to be presented in this chapter will be given. 

It is beyond the scope of this Chapter to discuss all kinds of various coating techniques, properties of the supports, properties of the coatings and the various fields of application of the composites in catalysis, separation techniques, materials science, colloid science, sensor technology, biocompatible materials, biomi-metic materials, optics etc. The scope had to be restricted to the fundamental properties of ultrathin organic layers on solid supports followed by some examples, outlining the benefit of the tailored functional surfaces such as SAM and polymer brushes for catalysis. 

Nakache E., Dupeyrat M., Vignes-Adler M. (1983). Experimental and Theoretical Study of an Interfacial Instability at Some Oil-Water Interfaces Involving a Surface-Active Agent I. Physicochemical Description and Outlines for a Theoretical Approach. Journal of Colloid and Interface Science. 94(1) 120-127. 

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