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Science 26 October 1990:
Vol. 250. no. 4980, pp. 521 - 527
DOI: 10.1126/science.250.4980.521
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Articles

Scattering and Recoiling Spectrometry: An Ion's Eye View of Surface Structure

J. Wayne Rabalais 1

1 Department of Chemistry, University of Houston, Houston, TX 77204

Recent developments in ion-scattering spectrometry have led to a surface crystallography that is sensitive to all elements, including hydrogen. Time-of-flight techniques for the detection of atoms scattered and recoiled from surfaces in simple collision sequences, together with calculations of shadowing and blocking cones, can be used to make direct measurements of interatomic spacings and adsorption sites within an accuracy of le0.1 angstrom. Time-of-flight detection of both neutrals and ions provides the high sensitivity necessary for nondestructive analysis. Structures are determined by monitoring the angular anisotropies in the scattered primary and recoiled target atom flux. Such surface and adsorption site determinations find application in such fields as catalysis, thin film growth, and interfaces.

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Science. ISSN 0036-8075 (print), 1095-9203 (online)