FYS-2107 Introduction to Surface Science, 5 cr
Additional information
Suitable for postgraduate studies.
Person responsible
Mika Valden
Lessons
| Implementation | Period | Person responsible | Requirements |
| FYS-2107 2019-01 | 2 |
Mika Valden |
Accepted learning assignments. |
Learning Outcomes
After completing the course, the student will be able to recognize the main physicochemical surface properties and to combine them with surface mediated processes such as adsorption and formation of surface compounds. The student will learn how to apply the surface properties to surface engineering technologies (e.g. heterogeneous catalysis, the growth of thin films, nanotechnology, biomaterials). After completing the course, the student will be able to evaluate how the surface mediated processes can be utilized to develop novel, technologically relevant material properties. During the course, the student will learn to solve interdisciplinary research problems related to surface science in tutorial learning sessions (groups of 4-6 students) based on the shared expertise of the group members. The student will master the skills required to report the results of the learning assignments using online learning management system as well as in the form of a research report.
Content
| Content | Core content | Complementary knowledge | Specialist knowledge |
| 1. | Surface structure and Thermodynamics of surfaces: Ordered surface structures. Defects on surfaces. Relaxation. Reconstruction. Surface tension. | Adsorbate-Induced restructuring. Notation of surface structures. Surface tension values of metals approximated by using the heat of sublimation. | Growth modes on surfaces. Low energy electron diffraction. |
| 2. | Dynamics at surfaces: Potential energy hypersurface. Elementary surface processes. Adsorption. Sticking coefficient. Kinetics and dynamics of adsorption. Microscopic reversibility. | Structure sensitivity of adsorption. Activated adsorption. Precursor-state mediated adsorption. | Molecular Beam Surface Scattering. Steering dynamics in adsorption. |
| 3. | Electronic properties of surfaces: Surface dipole. Work function. Helmholtz equation. Local work function. | Friedel oscillations. Surface space charge at n-type semiconductor. Work function versus ionization potential. Metal-vacuum-metal tunneling junction. Debye length. Work function and Nanostructures. | Gas sensors. Electronic structure of nanoclusters. PAX-method. Surface Stark-effect. |
| 4. | Surface compounds: Chemisorption bond and physisorption bond. Resonance states. Chemisorption on Jellium surface. Alkali-metal adsorption. The flexible surface model. | Structure sensitivity of bond breaking. Ostwald Ripening. Chemisorption bond of CO. | Rich oxygen chemistry of ruthenium (0001). |
| 5. | Catalysis by surfaces: Ammonia synthesis. Structure sensitivity. Volcano curve. | Catalyst deactivation. Fe catalysts. | Compensation effect. Catalyst materials. |
Instructions for students on how to achieve the learning outcomes
The final grade of the course is defined by week performance, Midterm and Endterm electronic exams and a research report that is based on a project assignment, which is to be completed as a result of a team work. The assessment of the course is either numeric on the grade scale of 0 - 5 or Pass/Fail and will be decided together with the teacher and the students at the beginning of the course. The numeric assessment is based on weighting the week performance by 40%, Midterm and Endterm exam results by 40% and the research report by 20%. Instructions how to achieve the learning outcomes of the week performance and the project assignment can be found from the Moodle. This course is based on a blended learning method with 'flipped classroom' type of activities, so please bring your laptop/tablet/smart phone to the learning sessions.
Assessment scale:
Numerical evaluation scale (0-5)
Partial passing:
Study material
| Type | Name | Author | ISBN | URL | Additional information | Examination material |
| Other online content | Mika Valden | Yes | ||||
| Online book | Surface Science: Foundations of Catalysis and Nanoscience | Kolasinski, K.W. | 0-471-49245 0 | Yes |
Correspondence of content
| Course | Corresponds course | Description |
| FYS-2107 Introduction to Surface Science, 5 cr | FYS-2106 Introduction to Surface Science, 6 cr |