Publications by authors named "J Balajka"
A Multitechnique Study of CH Adsorption on a Model Single-Atom Rh Catalyst.
J Phys Chem C Nanomater Interfaces
September 2024
Article Synopsis
- The study examines how carbon hydride (CH) interacts with a model catalyst, Rh/FeO(001), focusing on various coordination environments of rhodium (Rh) atoms.* -
- Researchers used surface-sensitive techniques and density functional theory (DFT) calculations to analyze how different Rh species react during the thermal evolution of the system.* -
- Results show that CH binds strongest to 2-fold coordinated Rh sites, but unexpected desorption occurs at lower temperatures due to Rh atoms migrating to less stable sites; 5-fold coordinated Rh sites exhibit a less pronounced interaction.*
Macroscopic properties of materials stem from fundamental atomic-scale details, yet for insulators, resolving surface structures remains a challenge. We imaged the basal (0001) plane of α-aluminum oxide (α-AlO) using noncontact atomic force microscopy with an atomically defined tip apex. The surface formed a complex ([Formula: see text] × [Formula: see text])±9° reconstruction.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFNatural minerals contain ions that become hydrated when they come into contact with water in vapor and liquid forms. Muscovite mica - a common phyllosilicate with perfect cleavage planes - is an ideal system to investigate the details of ion hydration. The cleaved mica surface is decorated by an array of K ions that can be easily exchanged with other ions or protons when immersed in an aqueous solution.
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- The (111) facet of magnetite (FeO) has been widely researched, with ongoing debates about the true low-energy surface structures.
- Using density functional theory (DFT), three new surface reconstructions have been identified as more stable than the previously accepted structure, particularly in reducing environments.
- Microscopy techniques reveal a specific structure consisting of tetrahedral iron and 3-fold coordinated oxygen, which clarifies why certain areas are chemically inactive.
Muscovite mica, KAl(SiAl)O(OH), is a common layered phyllosilicate with perfect cleavage planes. The atomically flat surfaces obtained through cleaving lend themselves to scanning probe techniques with atomic resolution and are ideal to model minerals and clays. Despite the importance of the cleaved mica surfaces, several questions remain unresolved.
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