Scanning Tuneeling Microscopy Studies of Fivefold Surfaces of Icosahedral Al-Pd-Mn Quasicrystals and of Thin Silver Films on Those Surfaces

Scanning Tuneeling Microscopy Studies of Fivefold Surfaces of Icosahedral Al-Pd-Mn Quasicrystals and of Thin Silver Films on Those Surfaces
Author:
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Total Pages:
Release: 2008
Genre:
ISBN:

The present work in this dissertation mainly focuses on the clean fivefold surfaces of i-Al-Pd-Mn quasicrystals as well as the nucleation and growth of Ag films on these surfaces. In addition, Ag film growth on NiAl(110) has been explored in the frame of this dissertation. First, we have investigated the equilibration of a fivefold surface of icosahedral Al-Pd-Mn quasicrystal at 900-915 K and 925-950 K, using Omicron variable temperature scanning tunneling microscope (STM). Annealing at low temperatures resulted in many voids on some terraces while the others were almost void-free. After annealing at 925-950K, void-rich terraces became much rarer. Our STM images suggest that through growth and coalescence of the voids, a different termination becomes exposed on host terraces. All of these observations in our study indicate that even after the quasicrystalline terrace-step structure appears, it evolves with time and temperature. More specifically, based on the STM observations, we conclude that during the annealing a wide range of energetically similar layers nucleate as surface terminations, however, with increasing temperature (and time) this distribution gets narrower via elimination of the metastable void-rich terraces. Next, we have examined the bulk structural models of icosahedral Al-Pd-Mn quasicrystal in terms of the densities, compositions and interplanar spacings for the fivefold planes that might represent physical surface terminations. In our analyses, we mainly have focused on four deterministic models which have no partial or mixed occupancy but we have made some comparisons with an undeterministic model. We have compared the models with each other and also with the available experimental data including STM, LEED-IV, XPD and LEIS. In all deterministic models, there are two different families of layers (a pair of planes), and the nondeterministic model contains similar group of planes. These two families differ in terms of the chemical decoration of their top planes. Hence, we name them as Pd+(with Pd) and Pd-(without Pd). Based on their planer structure and the step height, it can be said that these two families can be viable surface terminations. However, besides the Pd content, these two sets differ in terms of relative densities of their top planes as well as the gap separating the layer from the nearest atomic plane. The experimental data and other arguments lead to the conclusion that the Pd- family is favored over the Pd+. This has an important implication on the interpretation of local motifs seen in the high resolution STM images. In other words, the dark stars are not formed by cut-Bergmans rather they are formed by cut-Mackays.

Scanning Tunneling Microscopy Studies of Surface Structures of Icosahedral Al-Cu-Fe Quasicrystals

Scanning Tunneling Microscopy Studies of Surface Structures of Icosahedral Al-Cu-Fe Quasicrystals
Author:
Publisher:
Total Pages:
Release: 2002
Genre:
ISBN:

Three papers are included in this dissertation. The first paper: ''Structural aspects of the fivefold quasicrystalline Al-Cu-Fe surface from STM and dynamical LEED studies'', is in press with ''Surface Science''. The second paper: ''An STM study of the atomic structure of the icosahedral Al-Cu-Fe fivefold surface'' is submitted to ''Physical Review B, Rapid Communication''. The third paper: ''Pseudomorphic starfish: arrangement of extrinsic metal atoms on a quasicrystalline substrate'' is submitted to ''Nature''. Following the third paper are general conclusions and appendices that document the published paper ''Structural aspects of the three-fold surface of icosahedral Al-Pd-Mn'' (appearing in volume 461, issue 1-3 of ''Surface Science'' on page L521-L527, 2000), the design as well as the specifications of the aluminum evaporator used in the aluminum deposition study in this dissertation, an extended discussion of the aluminum deposition on the quasicrystalline surface, and the STM database.

Commencement

Commencement
Author: Iowa State University
Publisher:
Total Pages: 492
Release: 2008
Genre: Commencement ceremonies
ISBN:

Scanning Tunneling Microscopy Studies of Surface Structures of Icosahedral Al-Cu-Fe Quasicrystals

Scanning Tunneling Microscopy Studies of Surface Structures of Icosahedral Al-Cu-Fe Quasicrystals
Author: Tanhong Cai
Publisher:
Total Pages: 270
Release: 2001
Genre:
ISBN:

Similar structural features can be identified in the atomically-dense planes generated from one of the available bulk structure models. Based on these results, we conclude that the fivefold i-AlCuFe surface corresponds to a two-dimensional cut of the bulk material. After examining the clean surface, we investigate the nucleation and growth of aluminium metallic thin films on the quasicrystalline i-Al-Cu-Fe fivefold surface. Upon deposition at room temperature, aluminium adatoms nucleate as pentagonal "starfish" with uniform size and in the same orientation. The same structure features are observed for different fluxes at low coverages. Based on the experimental results and the available bulk structure model, we identify the specific nucleation sites on the substrate and develop a model for the formation of the pentagonal starfish.

Scanning Tunneling Microscopy and Spectroscopy of Aluminum Based Quasicrystals and Approximants

Scanning Tunneling Microscopy and Spectroscopy of Aluminum Based Quasicrystals and Approximants
Author: Ruben Rafael Mäder
Publisher: Logos Verlag Berlin GmbH
Total Pages: 167
Release: 2010
Genre: Science
ISBN: 3832526757

On the nanometer scale, the local variation of the electronic density of states of aluminum based complex metallic alloys (quasicrystals and approximants) is experimentally investigated by low temperature scanning tunneling spectroscopy. We report on the correlation between the local variations of the electronic density of states and the electrical resistivity. The surface structure is investigated by scanning tunneling microscopy, low energy electron diffraction, and X-ray photoemission diffraction. Experimental results are interpreted on the basis of the respective bulk structure models.

Scanning Tunneling Microscopy in Surface Science, Nanoscience, and Catalysis

Scanning Tunneling Microscopy in Surface Science, Nanoscience, and Catalysis
Author: Michael Bowker
Publisher: John Wiley & Sons
Total Pages: 258
Release: 2009-11-11
Genre: Science
ISBN: 9783527628834

Here, top international authors in the field of STM and surface science present first-class contributions on this hot topic, bringing the reader up to date with the latest developments in this rapidly advancing field. The focus is on the nanoscale, particularly in relation to catalysis, involving developments in our understanding of the nature of the surfaces of oxides and nanoparticulate materials, as well as adsorption, and includes in-situ studies of catalysis on such model materials. Of high interest to practitioners of surface science, nanoscience, STM and catalysis.

Scanning Tunneling Microscopy I

Scanning Tunneling Microscopy I
Author: Hans-Joachim Güntherodt
Publisher: Springer Science & Business Media
Total Pages: 252
Release: 2012-12-06
Genre: Science
ISBN: 3642973434

Scanning Tunneling Microscopy I provides a unique introduction to a novel and fascinating technique that produces beautiful images of nature on an atomic scale. It is the first of three volumes that together offer a comprehensive treatment of scanning tunneling microscopy, its diverse applications, and its theoretical treatment. In this volume the reader will find a detailed description of the technique itself and of its applications to metals, semiconductors, layered materials, adsorbed molecules and superconductors. In addition to the many representative results reviewed, extensive references to original work will help to make accessible the vast body of knowledge already accumulated in this field.

Scanning Tunneling Microscopy and Its Application

Scanning Tunneling Microscopy and Its Application
Author: Chunli Bai
Publisher: Springer Science & Business Media
Total Pages: 392
Release: 2000-08-10
Genre: Medical
ISBN: 9783540657156

This book presents a unified view of the rapidly growing field of scanning tunneling microscopy and its many derivatives. After examining novel scanning-probe techniques and the instrumentation and methods, the book provides detailed accounts of STM applications. It examines limitations of the present-day investigations and provides insight into further trends. "I strongly recommend that Professor Bai's book be a part of any library that serves surface scientists, biochemists, biophysicists, material scientists, and students of any science or engineering field...There is no doubt that this is one of the better (most thoughtful) texts." Journal of the American Chemical Society (Review of 1/e)

Introduction to Scanning Tunneling Microscopy

Introduction to Scanning Tunneling Microscopy
Author: C. Julian Chen
Publisher: Oxford University Press, USA
Total Pages: 469
Release: 1993
Genre: Science
ISBN: 0195071506

A graduate-level introduction to scanning tunnelling microscopy, which explains how the method's ability to map microscopic surfaces non-destructively has found major applications in physics, surface science, materials science, biology, chemistry and engineering.