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Contact: Prof. Miquel Salmeron
Materials Sciences Division, Mail Stop 67R2206 (Office: 67-2111) Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, 1 Cyclotron Road, Berkeley, California 94720 USA
Phone: +1-510-486-6230
FAX: +1-510-486-7268
Email:mbsalmeron*lbl.gov (replace * by @)

Atomic scale imaging, manipulation, and spectroscopy Mechanical and electrical properties of molecules in self-assembled films Ambient pressure photoelectron spectroscopy for environnemental sciences Studies of friction, adhesion, and wear at the nanometer scale Electronic, mechanical, and chemical properties of nanoclusters Structure of thin liquid films and wetting Nanoscale material imaging and manipulation (Molecular Foundry) Catalytic and chemical properties of surfaces

Join Salmeron group's research projects:

1. Growth and structure of thin liquid films on surfaces and of surfaces of aqueous solutions.

Experiments are carried out using non-contact AFM (SPFM) to obtain topographic and dielectric information, and at the Berkeley Synchrotron (ALS) to obtain spectroscopic information. At the ALS we build a unique chamber where XPS and NEXAFS (or XAS)  spectroscopic studies can be carried out in the presence of vapor pressures of up to 10 torr. See Ambient Pressure Photoelectron Spectroscopy for Environmental Sciences.

2. Manipulation of atoms and molecules. Imaging with low temperature STM (4 K to RT).

Studies of adsorption structure, diffusion, and reactions of atoms and molecules. Excitation of electronic transitions (to explore bonding structure) and vibration excitations of individual molecules. Displacement of atoms and molecules with the STM tip to form clusters and other structures with unique electronic properties.

3. Fundamental studies of friction.

AFM is used (both in air and in ultra high vacuum) to measure friction and adhesion in organic and inorganic surfaces, clean or with layers of molecules. The goals is to correlate mechanical properties in nanometer contacts and the structure of the surface. See examples of research carried on in this area in projects (Studies of friction, adhesion, and wear at nanometer scale) and in publications (e.g. Science 309, 1354 and Phys. Rev. Lett. 95, 136802)

4. Surface chemistry and catalysis.

In this project surfaces of model catalysts (Pd, Pt, Rh, etc.) are studied with STM inside a chamber that can be filled with reactant gases up to one or more atmospheres. The project is aimed at obtaining information on the atomic structure of the surface of catalyst in equilibrium with gases as function of temperature and while a catalytic reaction is going on.