Professor Eric McFarland will investigate the nature of chemo-electric phenomena originating when atoms or molecules interact with very thin metal films deposited on semiconductors. The research will yield a test of the hypothesis that collision and adsorption of hydrogen (or deuterium) on Ag and Cu films on Si(111) leads to the generation of excited electrons by direct energy transfer. On this basis, Prof. McFarland will explore the concept of new hydrogen sensors. Additionally, the study will be extended and the concept will be tested with the adsorption and reaction of other gases, including O2, CO, CO2, NO2, C2H2, etc., at various temperatures as a function of the characteristics of the metal-semiconductor substrate. The electronic excitation produced by chemisorption and reaction will be validated and employed as a basis for new solid state gas sensors. The project will involve students and two collaborators, Profs. Arunava Majumdar and Henry Weinberg. UCSB will cost-share the equipment.
