Professor Rabalais and his coworkers at the University of Houston, along with his theoretical colleague Professor Bahrim at Lamar University, are developing ion-electron coincidence spectroscopy to probe the chemical structure of solid surfaces. With the support of the Analytical and Surface Chemistry Program, they are combining detailed experimental studies of ion-electron coincidence with trajectory calculations to develop a fundamental understanding of ion-solid interactions. The goal of this work is to develop tools for the real space structural and chemical analysis of solid surfaces. Application of this information is critical in a number of important technologies, including semiconductor processing, heterogeneous catalysis, and plasma-wall interactions.
Using a combination of experimental and theoretical approaches, Professors Rabalais and Bahrim are developing methods for the structural and compositional analysis of solid surfaces. Ion-electron coincidence spectroscopy provides a charge transfer mapping of the solid surface, and can be used to understand chemical reactivity at the interface. Fundamental information from these studies is important in the analysis of microelectronic devices and solid catalysts.
