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Surface Femtochemistry

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Model Systems in Catalysis

Abstract

A challenging task in surface science is to unravel the dynamics of molecules on surfaces associated with, for example, surface molecular motion and (bimolecular) reactions. As these processes typically take place on femtosecond time scales, ultrafast lasers must be used in these studies. We demonstrate two complementary approaches to study these ultrafast molecular dynamics at metal surfaces. In the first, the molecules are studied after desorbing from the surface initiated by a laser pulse using the so called time-of-flight technique. In the second approach, molecules are studied in real time during their diffusion over the surface by using surface-specific pump-probe spectroscopy.

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Acknowledgements

This work is part of the research program of the “Stichting voor Fundamenteel Onderzoek der Materie (FOM),” which is financially supported by the “Nederlandse organisatie voor Wetenschappelijk Onderzoek (NWO).” We are grateful to A.W. Kleyn, A. Eichler, M. Persson, M. Forsblom, H. Ueba, and M. Wolf for their help, many useful discussions, and comments.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. FOM Institute for Atomic and Molecular Physics, Kruislaan 407, Amsterdam, 1098 SJ, The Netherlands

    Ellen H. G. Backus & Mischa Bonn

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  1. Ellen H. G. Backus
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  2. Mischa Bonn
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Correspondence to Mischa Bonn .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Dept. Chemical Engineering, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, 16802-4400, U.S.A.

    Robert Rioux

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Backus, E.H.G., Bonn, M. (2010). Surface Femtochemistry. In: Rioux, R. (eds) Model Systems in Catalysis. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-0-387-98049-2_10

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