Development of a high-sensitivity, non-destructive surface adsorbed molecule analysis device, for pioneering research on radical reactions

2023 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 21K18153
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Challenging Research (Pioneering)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Review Section: Medium-sized Section 17:Earth and planetary science and related fields
• Research Institution: Hokkaido University
• Principal Investigator: Hidaka Hiroshi 北海道大学, 低温科学研究所, 助教 (00400010)
• Project Period (FY): 2021-07-09 – 2024-03-31
• Keywords: 表面組成分析 / 質量分析

Outline of Final Research Achievements

We have developed an experimental device capable of non-destructive, in-situ observation of molecular species formed by chemical reactions on low-temperature solid surfaces in an ultra-high vacuum. Even if the surface number densities of those products such as radicals are extremely low, this device allows for their detection. To achieve this, the Cs+ pickup method was adopted due to its requirement for very high detection sensitivity. During the research period, we mainly focused on designing and manufacturing a lens system that enables highly efficient collection of ions scattered from the solid surface and a mechanism for separating molecular isomers, as well as designing and manufacturing various parts of the analysis system. The fabrication of the molecular isomer separation mechanism is currently ongoing.

Free Research Field

星間化学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

低温固体表面で連続して生じる化学反応の中間体として生成されるラジカル分子は，その反応性の高さから，表面上に存在する数密度は非常に微量である．それゆえ，化学反応連鎖の中で中間体となるラジカルを検出し，その時間変化を追うことは非常に困難であり，固体表面での化学反応過程を詳細に調べることはほとんど不可能であった．本研究課題は，それを可能にする実験装置の開発であり，開発完了後には，多くの科学分野においても困難とされている微小量の表面吸着分子が関与する諸問題にブレークスルーをもたらす可能性が高い．