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The structure and reactivity of surfaces revealed by scanning tunneling microscopy

  • Scanning probes for new energy materials: Probing local structure and function
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Abstract

Scanning tunneling microscopy (STM) has revolutionized the fields of heterogeneous catalysis and environmental sciences by providing unique insights into the atomic-scale structure of model catalysts. For the first time, STM has revealed the structure of active sites, including steps, kinks, and special atomic geometries in compounds. It has provided images of atomic scale dynamic processes, including diffusion and reactions. STM can operate in environments of gases and liquids, as found in real life and in industrial processes. We illustrate these unique capabilities with examples and how the information obtained can lead to industrially relevant information and help the design of new catalysts.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Aarhus, Denmark

    Flemming Besenbacher

  2. Interdisciplinary Nanoscience Center, University of Aarhus, Denmark

    Peter Thostrup

  3. Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory and Materials Science and Engineering Department, USA

    Miquel Salmeron

Authors
  1. Flemming Besenbacher
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  2. Peter Thostrup
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  3. Miquel Salmeron
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Flemming Besenbacher.

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Besenbacher, F., Thostrup, P. & Salmeron, M. The structure and reactivity of surfaces revealed by scanning tunneling microscopy. MRS Bulletin 37, 677–681 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1557/mrs.2012.142

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