Dynamic analysis of adsorption and collision of ionized gas molecules on metal surfaces

2016 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 15K17468
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Young Scientists (B)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Research Field: Thin film/Surface and interfacial physical properties
• Research Institution: Osaka University
• Principal Investigator: ASO Ryotaro 大阪大学, 産業科学研究所, 助教 (40735362)
• Project Period (FY): 2015-04-01 – 2017-03-31
• Keywords: 環境制御型透過電子顕微鏡 / ナノギャップ / 金 / トンネル電流 / 電界蒸発 / その場観察

Outline of Final Research Achievements

By using environmental transmission electron microscopy (E-TEM), we elucidated what happens to gases in a metal nanogap under a strong electric field. We found that gas molecules interact with tunneling electrons across the nanogap, inducing field evaporation of gold atoms and formation of a dynamic nano-flow-path. Moreover, direct visualization of the local electric field in nanogap electrodes revealed that the electric field formed in the nanogap was highly stable during electron tunneling independent of the surrounding environments and caused the structural changes of the electrode surface.

Free Research Field

電子顕微鏡学