Department of Applied Physics

Surface Science

The Surface Science group studies structures, bonding, and reactivity at solid surfaces on the atomic and molecular scale using advanced surface sensitive tools in Ultra High Vacuum environment. This knowledge is utilized to understand macroscopic behavior of nanostructures and surface phenomena like heterogeneous catalysis and adhesion.
Surface science

Group leader

Dr. Jouko Lahtinen

Research is carried out in the following areas:

  • Structural and chemical characterization of nanomaterials
  • Interactions and structures of adsorbate species on metal surfaces
  • Surface and near surface characterization of oxide materials, nanoparticles and ‘real’ catalysts.

Research

The Surface Science group studies:

  • Growth and characterisation of 2D materials
  • Interactions and structures of adsorbate species on metal surfaces
  • Surface and near surface characterization of oxide materials, nanoparticles and ‘real’ catalysts.

Graphene and other 2D nanostructures

Graphene is a one atomic thick sheet of carbon atoms featuring a honeycomb structure. It has several interesting properties both mechanically and electronically.

These studies have been performed in close collaboration with the Atomic Scale Physics group. The adjacent image shows the moire structure of single layer of graphene on Ir(111) surface studied with LEED I(V) and AFM measurements that yield the local surface topography with pm accuracy.

Ordered structures of adsorbed molecules on single crystal surfaces

With these studies we aim to increase the understanding of catalytic systems. Adsorption of CO has been studied on metal surfaces and known catalytic promoters and poisons hase been added to change the adsorption behaviour and structure. Typically the system has been studied with XPS and LEED I(V) measurements to give chemical and structural information. The adjacent image shows the adsorption structure of  clusters consisting of 14 P-atoms on Pt(111) surface.

Surface characterisation with ESCA

Electron spectroscopy for chemical analysis (ESCA, XPS) is a standard tool for studying the chemical composition of the first few atomic layers of solid material. We have used the method to study a large variety of samples from our collaborators; these include e.g. car exhaust catalysts from Environmental and Chemical Engineering at Oulu University, carbon nano structures from e.g. NanoMaterials group, light emitting silica particles, etc.

Facilities

The Surface Science research group has three multi-technique ultra-high vacuum (UHV) systems located in Nanotalo.

Kratos Axis Ultra ESCA system

The system is an X-ray Photoemission Spectrometer (XPS, ESCA) enabling elemental concentrations,chemical state identification and chemical state mapping of the surface. The system contains a dual anode (Mg and Al Kα source) and a monochromated Al Kα source. The analysis area varies from 110 μm down to 15 μm, and he ultimate lateral resolution is 5 μm. There is also an He-source enabling Ultraviolet Photoemission Spectroscopy (UPS).

Ar Gas Cluster Ion Source (GCIS) capable of generating Ar cluster size up to 2000 atoms. The cluster source enables depth profiling of both hard and soft materials. The ion source also enables Low Energy Ion Scattering Spectrocopy (LEISS).

STM & XPS

The system is a self-combined collection consisting of 

  • Surface Science SSX-100 electron energy analyzer and monochromatic X-ray source
  • Omicron VT SPM variable temperature scanning tunneling microscope
  • SPECTALEED reverse view LEED-optics for low energy electron diffraction (LEED)
  • evaporation systems for sample preparation in vacuum.

LEED & PM-IRRAS

This is another self-combined system consisting of

  • Perkin Elmer PHI 3057 XPS system with a dual anode (Mg and Al Kα) X-ray source and an electron energy analyzer.
  • Princeton Research Instruments reverse view LEED-optics
  • Bruker Polarization Modulated Ifrared Absorption Spectroscopy (PM-IRRAS)

Latest publications

Stabilized Nickel-Rich-Layered Oxide Electrodes for High-Performance Lithium-Ion Batteries

Zahra Ahaliabadeh, Ville Miikkulainen, Miia Mäntymäki, Mattia Colalongo, Seyedabolfazl Mousavihashemi, Lide Yao, Hua Jiang, Jouko Lahtinen, Timo Kankaanpää, Tanja Kallio 2024 Energy and Environmental Materials

Doped Mott phase and charge correlations in monolayer 1T-NbSe2

Xin Huang, Jose Lado, Jani Sainio, Peter Liljeroth, Somesh Chandra Ganguli 2024 arXiv.org

The effect of the pyrolysis temperature and biomass type on the biocarbons characteristics

Anna Iurchenkova, Anna Kobets, Zahra Ahaliabadeh, Janez Kozir, Ekaterina Laakso, Tommi Virtanen, Virpi Siipola, Jouko Lahtinen, Tanja Kallio 2024 ChemSusChem

Amorphous carbon modulated-quantum dots NiO for efficient oxygen evolution in anion exchange membrane water electrolyzer

Benjin Jin, Qian Wang, Jani Sainio, Viktoriia A. Saveleva, Hua Jiang, Junjie Shi, Basit Ali, Antti Jussi Kallio, Simo Huotari, Dage Sundholm, Nana Han, Tanja Kallio 2024 Applied Catalysis B: Environmental

High-temperature adsorption of nitrogen dioxide for stable, efficient, and scalable doping of carbon nanotubes

Eldar M. Khabushev, Dmitry V. Krasnikov, Jani Sainio, Ilya V. Novikov, Anastasia E. Goldt, Stanislav S. Fedotov, Tanja Kallio, Albert G. Nasibulin 2024 Carbon

Zirconium effect on the lithiation mechanism of LiNi0.83Mn0.05Co0.12O2 positive electrode material

Xiangze Kong, Ekaterina O. Laakso, Eeva-Leena Rautama, Hua Jiang, Jani Sainio, Lide Yao, Liisa Puro, Lauri Mäenpää, Markus Koponen, Donglin Li, Tanja Kallio 2024 Materials Today Energy

Ni Drastically Modifies the Microstructure and Electrochemistry of Thin Ti and Cr Layers

Ayesha Kousar, Ulviyya Quliyeva, Ishan Pande, Jani Sainio, Jaakko Julin, Timo Sajavaara, Hua Jiang, Tomi Laurila 2024 Journal of Physical Chemistry C

Droplet slipperiness despite surface heterogeneity at molecular scale

Sakari Lepikko, Ygor Morais Jaques, Muhammad Junaid, Matilda Backholm, Jouko Lahtinen, Jaakko Julin, Ville Jokinen, Timo Sajavaara, Maria Sammalkorpi, Adam Foster, Robin Ras 2024 Nature Chemistry

High Voltage Cycling Stability of LiF-Coated NMC811 Electrode

Princess Stephanie Llanos, Zahra Ahaliabadeh, Ville Miikkulainen, Jouko Lahtinen, Lide Yao, Hua Jiang, Timo Kankaanpää, Tanja Kallio 2024 ACS Applied Materials and Interfaces

A Binder-Free Nickel-Rich Cathode Composite Utilizing Low-Bundled Single-Walled Carbon Nanotubes

Seyedabolfazl Mousavihashemi, Eldar M. Khabushev, Jouko Lahtinen, Alisa R. Bogdanova, Ilya V. Novikov, Dmitry V. Krasnikov, Albert G. Nasibulin, Tanja Kallio 2024 Advanced Materials Technologies
More information on our research in the Aalto research portal.
Research portal

Research group members

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