Studies of electron transfer dynamics in particle‐surface interactions

Abstract

AbstractA review of recent work on electron transfer processes leading to neutralization of positive ions and formation of negative ions is presented. Experiments were performed on simple jellium‐like metal surfaces, transition metals, and specific characteristics of electronic band structure were investigated for some cases, revealing differences in electron transfer processes between surfaces of the same element. It was shown that electronegative adsorbates like oxygen and chlorine provoke strong changes in electron transfer rates, which are akin to promotion and poisoning of reactions at surfaces. The results of experiments on Auger neutralization of He+ ions on Ag surfaces and H− and F− formation on Ag and Pd surfaces are presented and compared with recent theoretical treatments of these processes. The effect of adsorbates is illustrated by the example of chlorine adsorption on silver. Directions where further theoretical effort would considerably advance the understanding of these phenomena are delineated.