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Persistent URL http://purl.org/net/epubs/work/44010
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Record Id 44010
Title An investigation into the effect of a chiral adsorbate on surface magnetism using spin-resolved electron spectroscopy : tartaric acid on Ni{110}
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Abstract This research project has been concerned with the study of single-crystal catalytic surfaces modified with chiral overlayers, these having been the subject of intense research by the Liverpool group for many years. The two combinations investigated were (R)- & (S)-alanine on Cu{110} (referred to as Ala-Cu), and (R,R)- & (S,S )- tartaric acid on Ni{110} (referred to as TA-Ni). The bulk of this research project is based on a series electron spin-resolved measurements utilising the techniques of photoemission and electron scattering on the TA-Ni system, the aim being to observe the effect of the adsorbate overlayer on the electron spin polarisation exhibited by the nickel substrate. The degree of competency required to carry out this experiment necessitated a thorough understanding of the compact spin-resolving Mott polarimeter. This was achieved through an initial series of experiments with the Mott polarimeter using a standard sample, specifically, Fe<sub>80</sub>B<sub>20</sub> and Fe<sub>77</sub>B<sub>16</sub>Si<sub>5</sub> amorphous ribbons. The techniques developed using the amorphous samples were then used to characterise the nickel sample selected as the magnetic substrate onto which monolayers of tartaric acid would ultimately be applied. The characterisation included spin-resolved measurements over the secondary electron cascade, and a challenging spin-resolved Auger electron measurement. A final series of spin-resolved photoemission experiments investigates the effect of the chiral overlayer on the spin polarisation of electrons emitted form the nickel. The adsorption geometry for the Ala-Cu system was also investigated using the techniques of XPS and NEXAFS. Application of dipole selection rules to the NEXAFS data permitted the determination of several adsorption geometry parameters.
Organisation CCLRC , SRS , 3.3 , 4.1 , 5U.1 , MPW6.1
Keywords Chemistry , nickel , tartaric acid , magnetism , catalysis , spin-resolved
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Language English (EN)
Type Details URI(s) Local file(s) Year
Thesis PhD, University of Liverpool, Department of Chemistry, 2006. 2006