The experimental physical chemistry course will incorporate a Low Energy Electron Diffraction (LEED) experiment on defined single crystal palladium surfaces under ultra high vacuum conditions. The needed apparatus will be constructed from components. The experiment shows electron diffraction from a surface, as first observed by Davisson and Germer in 1925. This first demonstration of wave-particle duality, a purely quantum mechanical phenomenon, will be deeply instructive for students. The LEED experiment also exposes surface structure and molecular adsorption, which are important in heterogenous catalysis and surface chemistry. The grantee will match the NSF grant from non-Federal sources.
