Experimental observation of quantum oscillation of surface chemical reactivities.
Here we present direct observation of a quantum reactivity with respect to the amounts of O(2) adsorbed and the rates of surface oxidation as a function of film thickness on ultrathin (2-6 nm) Pb mesas by scanning tunneling microscopy. Simultaneous spectroscopic measurements on the electronic structures reveal a quantum oscillation that originates from quantum well states of the mesas, as a generalization of the Fabry-Pérot modes of confined electron waves. We expect the quantum reactivity to be a general phenomenon for most ultrathin metal films with broad implications, such as nanostructure tuning of surface reactivities and rational design of heterogeneous catalysts.
Ma
Xucun
X
Institute of Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100080, China.
Jiang
Peng
P
Qi
Yun
Y
Jia
Jinfeng
J
Yang
Yu
Y
Duan
Wenhui
W
Li
Wei-Xue
WX
Bao
Xinhe
X
Zhang
S B
SB
Xue
Qi-Kun
QK