Physics of Surfaces and Interfaces

ISBN-13: 9783642071072 / Angielski / Miękka / 2010 / 646 str.

Harald Ibach

Opis

Writing a textbook is an undertaking that requires strong motivation, strong enough to carry out almost two years of solid work in this case. My motivation arose from three sources. The first was the ever-increasing pressure of our German administration on research institutions and individuals to divert time and attention from the pursuit of research into achieving politically determined five-year plans and milestones. The challenge of writing a textbook helped me to maintain my integrity as a scientist and served as an escape. A second source of motivation lay in my attempt to understand transport pr- esses at the solid/electrolyte interface within the framework of concepts developed for solid surfaces in vacuum. These concepts provide logical connections between the properties of single atoms and large ensembles of atoms by describing the physics on an ever-coarser mesh. The transfer to the solid/electrolyte interface proved nontrivial, the greatest obstacle being that terms such as surface tension denote different quantities in surface physics and electrochemistry. Furthermore, I came to realize that not infrequently identical quantities and concepts carry diff- ent names in the two disciplines. I felt challenged by the task of bringing the two worlds together. Thus a distinct feature of this volume is that, wherever approp- ate, it treats surfaces in vacuum and in an electrolyte side-by-side. The final motivation unfolded during the course of the work itself.

Spis treści

Structure of Surfaces.- Basic Techniques.- Basic Concepts.- Equilibrium Thermodynamics.- Statistical Thermodynamics of Surfaces.- Adsorption.- Vibrational Excitations at Surfaces.- Electronic Properties.- Magnetism.- Diffusion at Surfaces.- Nucleation and Growth.- Appendix: Surface Brillouin Zones.- References.- Subject Index.- List of Common Acronyms.

O autorze

Since 1974 Director at the Institute of Interface Physics and Vacuum Research, Presently Institute of Thin Films and Interfaces

1986 Medard W. Welch Award of ther American Vacuum Society: "For the development of high-resolution electron energy-loss spectroscopy and its application to the characterization of surfaces and adsorbates"

1989 Regent's Professor, University of California, Irvine

1991 Hewlett-Packard Europhysics Prize for Outstanding Achievements in Solid State Physics (with G. Ertl und J.P. Toennies)

1993 Miller Research professor, University of California, Berkeley

Blurb

This graduate-level textbook covers the major developments in surface sciences of recent decades, from experimental tricks and basic techniques to the latest experimental methods and theoretical understanding. It is unique in its attempt to treat the physics of surfaces, thin films and interfaces, surface chemistry, thermodynamics, statistical physics and the physics of the solid/electrolyte interface in an integral manner, rather than in separate compartments. The Physics of Surfaces and Interfaces is designed as a handbook for the researcher as well as a study-text for graduate students in physics or chemistry with special interest in the surface sciences, material science, or the nanosciences. The experienced researcher, professional or academic teacher will appreciate the opportunity to share many insights and ideas that have grown out of the author's long experience. Readers will likewise appreciate the wide range of topics treated, each supported by extensive references. Graduate students will benefit from the elementary introductions to experimental techniques and the clear presentations of the theory behind the techniques and the phenomena. Wherever possible, physical concepts are emphasized and the mathematical notation kept to a minimum; the verbal explanations are supported by 350 graphs and illustrations.