This National Science Foundation Young Investigator project is in the general area of surface chemistry, with a specific focus on the characterization of semiconductor surfaces. During the five-year tenure of this award, Professor Maboudian and her students will carry out fundamental studies on the interaction of hydrogen and hydrocarbons with indium-antimony surfaces, which serve as useful models for gallium arsenide semiconductors. This chemistry will be explored using a wide range of surface sensitive techniques, such as x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, low energy electron diffraction, Auger, and high resolution electron energy loss spectrometry. The use of self-assembled monolayers to provide unreactive, defect free semiconductor surfaces will also be explored during the course of this research project. This project, in the Analytical and Surface Chemistry Program of the Chemistry Division, should yield important insights into the structure of semiconductor materials that are of great importance in the electronics industry. Additionally, this award will enable Professor Maboudian to further her overall professional development as a researcher and educator at the University of California at Berkeley.
