Dr. Lee L. Lauderback's research program is keyed toward developing a fundamental understanding of the chemistry and physics of reactive solid surfaces and the chemical nature of gas-solid surface interactions. The composition, atomic structure and electronic properties of surfaces are studied in vacuum and during interaction with gas phase species using angle resolved secondary ion mass spectrometry, high resolution electron energy loss spectroscopy, Auger electron spectroscopy, low energy electron diffraction, thermal desorption spectroscopy, and work function measurements. The research is applied to a variety of technological problems in catalysis, and adhesives, thin films and solid phase reactions.
Chemistry and physics of reactive solid surfaces and the chemical nature of gas-solid surface interactions.
The composition, atomic structure and electronic properties of surfaces are studied in vacuum and during interaction with gas phase species using angle resolved secondary ion mass spectrometry, high resolution electron energy loss spectroscopy, Auger electron spectroscopy, low energy electron diffraction, thermal desorption spectroscopy, and work function measurements. The research is applied to a variety of technological problems in catalysis, and adhesives, thin films and solid phase reactions.
In the area of catalysis, a major thrust of the research effort is aimed at learning how to control catalytic activity and selectivity through controlled modifications of the chemical and catalytic properties of metal surfaces.
Research in this area includes studies aimed at developing an atomic-level understanding of the influence of surface modifying components including chemical promoters, alloys, and poisons on the reaction chemistry of methanation, Fisher-Tropsch synthesis, hydrocarbon conversion and carbon gasification reactions.
In conjunction with this work, a novel technique for preparing surfaces with unique chemical properties is also being developed. This technique is designed to permit controlled modification of surface properties by selective deposition of a variety of unique ions including homo- and heteroatomic metal clusters, organics, organometallics and atomic ions onto solid surfaces from a low energy mass analyzed ion beam.
This technique will also be utilized to deposit small metal clusters of well-defined size onto catalyst supports for studies aimed at understanding the catalytic chemistry of small metal particles.
A major research effort is also under way on the development of new ion beam spectroscopies that have unique potential for probing the identity, the local chemical environment, and the local geometric and bonding structure of chemical species on solid surfaces.
"Effect of Surface Thermal Vibrations on the Azimuthal Angle Distribution of Ni+ Ejected from Ni (111) by Ar+ Bombardment," L.L. Lauderback and Y. Zhang, Phys.Rev. B, 48, 1750-6 (1994).
"The Bonding Site Location of Chemisorbed Oxygen on AI (100) from Angle Resolved Secondary Ion Mass Spectrometry," L.L. Lauderback, A. J. Lynn and S.A. Larson, Surf. Sci., 243, 323 (1991).
"A Molecular Dynamics Study of Ion Bombardment Induced Ejection of C2H4, from Ni (111): Relationships of the Angle Distributions of the Translational and Rotational Angular Momentum of Ejected C2H4 to Surface Structure," L.L. Lauderback, M.L. Ang and H.C. Murray, J. Chem. Phys., 93, 6041 (1990).
"Influence of the Interatomic Potential on Momentum Anisotropics in Collision Cascades and on the Angular Distribution of Ejected Particles during ion Collisions with Single Crystal Surfaces," L.L. Lauderback, in preparation (1997).
For additional publications, please click the Digital Commons link in the right column of the page.
Contact:
Department of Chemical &
Biomolecular Engineering 207 Othmer Hall
University of Nebraska-Lincoln
Lincoln, NE 68588-0643
Phone: (402) 472-2750
FAX: (402) 472-6989
E-mail: chembeng@unl.edu
