Energetic and Steric Effects in Ion/Surface Reactive Scattering

Abstract

The principal investigator explored chemical reactions between small molecular ions and solid surfaces in order to simulate reactions on spacecraft surfaces in a low-earth-orbit environment. The surfaces were prepared in ultrahigh vacuum, and the ions were accelerated to translational energies between 5 and 100 eV before they collided with the surface target. The scattered reaction products were detected with energy-, mass-, and angular resolution. Results are reported for dissociative scattering of OCS(+) on Ag(111), where three different mechanisms were assigned for the three observed fragmentation pathways. Experiments were also conducted on NO(+) reacting with O/Ag(111) and O/Al(111). Here, an atom abstraction channel led to the scattering of NO2. Finally, prolonged bombardment of a silicon nitride surface by low energy O(+) ions was observed to induce irreversible damage in the nitride thin film.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Mar 14, 1998
Accession Number
ADA341374

Entities

People

  • Dennis C. Jacobs

Organizations

  • University of Notre Dame

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Advanced Electronics
  • Energy and Power Technologies
  • Space
  • Weapons Technologies

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Auger Electron Spectroscopy
  • Auger Electrons
  • Ceramic Materials
  • Detectors
  • Diffraction
  • Dissociation
  • Dynamics
  • Earth Orbits
  • Fragmentation
  • Ion Beams
  • Ionization
  • Low Earth Orbits
  • Projectiles
  • Scattering
  • Spacecraft
  • Students
  • Surface Reactions

Fields of Study

  • Physics

Readers

  • Molecular Photonics/Laser Physics
  • Tribology (the study of the boundary interaction between sliding surfaces, lubrication, wear and friction).

Technology Areas

  • Space
  • Space - Hall-Effect Thruster