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Course unit, curriculum year 2024–2025
FYS.440

Introduction to Surface Science, 5 cr

Tampere University
Teaching periods
Active in period 2 (21.10.2024–31.12.2024)
Course code
FYS.440
Language of instruction
English
Academic years
2024–2025, 2025–2026, 2026–2027
Level of study
Advanced studies
Grading scale
General scale, 0-5
Persons responsible
Responsible teacher:
Mika Valden
Responsible organisation
Faculty of Engineering and Natural Sciences 100 %
Coordinating organisation
Physics Studies 100 %
Core content
  • Surface structure and Thermodynamics of surfaces: Ordered surface structures. Defects on surfaces. Relaxation. Reconstruction. Surface tension.
  • Dynamics at surfaces: Potential energy hypersurface. Elementary surface processes. Adsorption. Sticking coefficient. Kinetics and dynamics of adsorption. Microscopic reversibility.
  • Electronic properties of surfaces: Surface dipole. Work function. Helmholtz equation. Local work function.
  • Surface compounds: Chemisorption bond and physisorption bond. Resonance states. Chemisorption on Jellium surface. Alkali-metal adsorption. The flexible surface model.
  • Catalysis by surfaces: Ammonia synthesis. Structure sensitivity. Volcano curve.
Complementary knowledge
  • Adsorbate-Induced restructuring. Notation of surface structures. Surface tension values of metals approximated by using the heat of sublimation.
  • Structure sensitivity of adsorption. Activated adsorption. Precursor-state mediated adsorption.

  • 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.

  • Structure sensitivity of bond breaking. Ostwald Ripening. Chemisorption bond of CO.
  • Catalyst deactivation. Fe catalysts.
Specialist knowledge
  • Growth modes on surfaces. Low energy electron diffraction.
  • Molecular Beam Surface Scattering. Steering dynamics in adsorption.
  • Gas sensors. Electronic structure of nanoclusters. PAX-method. Surface Stark-effect.

  • Rich oxygen chemistry of ruthenium (0001).
  • Compensation effect. Catalyst materials.
Learning outcomes
Further information
Learning material
Equivalences
Studies that include this course
Completion option 1
The work load of 120 hours is evenly distributed throughout the course due to weekly assignments followed by tutorial learning sessions, two electronic exams and a project assignment, which is to be completed as result of a team work: Participation in the learningn events 22%, Participation in exams 3% and Estimated work load for assignments 75%.

Participation in teaching

21.10.2024 08.12.2024
Active in period 2 (21.10.2024–31.12.2024)