This research project, supported in the Analytical and Surface Chemistry Program, will apply helium diffraction and reactive molecular beam scattering techniques to the study of the defect oxide surface. This combination of structural and reaction probes will provide detailed information about the relationship between the nature and structure of defects on oxide surfaces and their reaction properties. Initial stages of metallization on these model oxide surfaces will also be probed, providing a clearer understanding of the growth of metal films on insulating substrates. The information provided by this work will add significantly to our understanding of metal-support interactions in catalysis and electronic device manufacture, and to the understanding of the reactivity of these complex oxide surfaces. %%% The structure and reactivity of the surfaces of oxides is a relatively unexplored area of surface science, with major implications for the understanding of a variety of surface mediated processes. This research project will extend the use of very surface sensitive atomic and molecular beam scattering probes to the study of the oxide surface. The information gained from this work will help to develop the relationship between structure and reactivity on these technologically important surfaces.
