Surface diffusivity and surface free energy of metals are important physical quantities in phenomena such as nucleation and growth, corrosion, and fracture. Values of these parameters appropriate for ambient temperature behavior are based on linear extrapolations of high temperature measurements. This program examines a new measurement technique for direct observation of surface mobilities using the scanning tunneling microscope. Such measurements need to be done on extremely well characterized surfaces, taking into account surface segregation and effect of electrolyte composition. Consideration of temperature dependence of the surface parameters is considered high risk as it requires new scanning tunneling microscopy techniques.
