Vibrant Colors of the Outermost Electron Layer

 


Scientists at Nagoya University in Japan have released a new study in the journal Microscopy. The team have been studying surfaces. Surfaces are important in chemical reactions like catalysts and corrosion.

The researchers used atomic-resolution secondary electron (SE) imaging. They captured the atomic structure of the top layer of materials. They did this to understand the differences between it's lower layers. 

There is a phenomenon called "surface reconstruction." This happens when the surface atoms are organized differently from the interior atoms. To observe this at the atomic level, surface reactivity techniques are needed. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) is what is typically used by scientists to observe nanoscale structures. It works by scanning a sample with a very focused electron beam. It captures the SEs coming from the surface. SEs are usually emitted from a depth of just below the surface. It makes it very difficult to observe the reactions on the surface. 

Nagoya University used a somewhat simple process. They used a two-layered molybdenum disulfide sample. This measured how much information SE imaging can compute from the surface and other layers. By stacking two layers of this material, they were able to define one layer from the second layer underneath. 

The atomic resolution SE images of the sample revealed beautiful honey-combed like structures. SE imaging also revealed overlapping patterns. This patterning showed atomic arrangements in the surface and second layers.

Koh Saitoh is lead author of the study. He is a researcher at Nagoya University's Institute of Material and Systems Sustainability (IMASS). He summarizes, "The results suggest that the surface layer absorbs or scatters SEs from the second layer. This absorption contributes to the method's depth sensisitivy."

The goal of the group is to use SE imagining to show surface structures at the atomic level to the world. These processes are essential to control growth, fabrication and properties of nanomaterials. 

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