CAREER: Dynamics of Self-Assembly at Strained Metal Interfaces

这个CAREER奖将资助一个项目，其目标是通过使用扫描隧道显微镜（STM）直接动态测量自组装的驱动力，更好地理解表面自组织行为的基本机制和界面应力的意义。在超真空中，在异质衬底与异质原子层之间的应变界面上生长出热平衡的大尺度有序和尺寸均匀的二维纳米阵列。将结构信息（来自独特的实时变温STM测量）与电子结构中的量子尺寸效应（来自高分辨率UV光电发射）相结合，将指导新的动态模型的开发，以描述表面上纳米级结构的演变和特性。这项研究将成为拟议的教育推广计划的一个组成部分。新设计的题为“高中教师材料物理学的现代方面”的课程和拟议的“高中学生暑期材料科学研究所”将通过丰富高中课堂的科学教学来解决提高学生科学成绩的需要。 此外，参与这项研究的研究生和本科生将接受最先进技术的培训，为他们未来的科学生涯提供坚实的基础。在许多系统中已经观察到表面上自发形成有组织的纳米结构。它们被认为是由于长距离应变场相互作用和稳定这些结构的短距离化学力之间的微妙平衡而产生的。然而，对驱动力的详细了解并不存在。这个CAREER项目的目标是识别和控制这些有可能超越标准图案化技术的相互作用，从而引领更高密度的磁存储，更有选择性的催化材料，更高灵敏度的化学传感器，也许还有量子计算机。独特的实时测量的动态单个原子自排序成纳米阵列将在一个自制的（扫描隧道）显微镜。研究结果将指导新的动态模型的发展，以描述表面纳米结构的演变。这项研究将成为拟议的教育推广计划的一个组成部分。新设计的题为“高中教师材料物理学的现代方面”的课程和拟议的“高中学生暑期材料科学研究所”将通过丰富高中课堂的科学教学来解决提高学生科学成绩的需要。 此外，参与这项研究的研究生和本科生将接受最先进技术的培训，为他们未来的科学生涯提供坚实的基础。

This CAREER award will fund a project whose goal is the development of a better understanding of the fundamental mechanism of self-organizing behavior at surfaces and the significance of interfacial stress, through direct dynamic measurements of the driving forces of self-assembly using scanning tunneling microscopy (STM). Two-dimensional nano-arrays in thermal equilibrium of large-scale order and size uniformity will be grown on strained interfaces between a bimetallic atomic layer and a dissimilar substrate in ultrahigh vacuum. Combining the structural information (from unique real-time variable-temperature STM measurements) with quantum-size effects in the electronic structure (from high-resolution UV photoemission) will guide the development of new dynamic models to describe the evolution and properties of nanoscale structures on surfaces. This research will form an integral part of the proposed educational outreach program. The newly designed course entitled "Modern Aspects of Materials Physics for High School Teachers" and the proposed "Summer Materials Science Institute for High School Students" will address the need to improve the science achievement for students by enriching science teaching in the high school classroom. In addition the graduate and undergraduate students involved in this research will receive training in state of the art techniques, providing them with a sound basis for their future scientific careers.Spontaneous formation of organized nanoscale structures on surfaces has been observed in many systems. They are thought to arise because of a delicate balance between long-range strain field interactions and short-range chemical forces that stabilizes these structures. A detailed understanding of the driving forces, however, does not exist. The goal of this CAREER project is to identify and control these interactions that have the potential to surpass standard patterning technologies and thus, to lead the way to higher density magnetic storage, more selective catalytic materials, higher sensitivity chemical sensors, and perhaps, quantum computers. Unique real-time measurements of the dynamics of individual atoms self-ordering into nano-arrays will be performed on a home-built (scanning tunneling) microscope. The results will guide the development of new dynamic models to describe the evolution of nanoscale structures on surfaces. This research will form an integral part of the proposed educational outreach program. The newly designed course entitled "Modern Aspects of Materials Physics for High School Teachers" and the proposed "Summer Materials Science Institute for High School Students" will address the need to improve the science achievement for students by enriching science teaching in the high school classroom. In addition the graduate and undergraduate students involved in this research will receive training in state of the art techniques, providing them with a sound basis for their future scientific careers.