The detailed spectroscopic characterization of adsorbed cyanide, isocyanide, and isocyanate molecular species on transition metal surfaces is the focus of this research project. With the support of the Analytical and Surface Chemistry Program, Professor Hinch and her colleagues in the Chemistry Department at Rutgers University, are using time of flight inelastic helium atom scattering methods to probe the low frequency frustrated translational and rotational motions of these adsorbed species. Using this state of the art instrumentation, detailed information about the interaction potential energy surface that governs these adsorbate-surface processes is obtained. Information from this work provides the fundamental underpinning for the development of catalytically active surfaces.
The very low frequency motions of small molecules adsorbed on metal surfaces can only be effectively probed by the scattering of helium atoms in a high resolution inelastic scattering apparatus. This information is crucial to the understanding of molecular motion on surfaces, and their subsequent reaction mechanisms and rates. Professor Hinch and her colleagues at Rutgers are using this unique approach to study the detailed interactions of small nitrogen and carbon containing molecular species with platinum and copper surfaces. This work provides fundamental understanding of catalytic and corrosion processes.
