Weak Absorption Research Articles

High photothermal conversion of AgPdCu alloy hollow nanospheres with enhanced intraband transitions for sensitive detection of Albendazole

A popular point-of-care diagnostic method is lateral flow immunoassay (LFIA) with gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) as a signal tracer. However, considering the weak absorbance of conventional AuNPs, the poor sensitivity has greatly limited the wide application of AuNPs-LFIA. With the development of nanomaterials, the engineering of multifunctional composite nanomaterials (NPs) with synergistic size tuning and shape engineering provides extraordinary opportunities to improve the sensitivity of LFIA. Taking advantage of the electronic effects of three kinds of metallic elements including Ag, Pd, and Cu, trimetallic-alloys AgPdCu hollow nanospheres (AgPdCuHNs) with crystal defects was prepared, featuring excellent colorimetric signal (α = 6.6 L/g cm−1), outstanding photothermal properties (η = 75.64 %), high antibody coupling efficiency (96.31 %), and unrestricted immunorecognition affinity (Ka = 2.366 × 109 M−1), all of which are conducive to a highly sensitive dual-signal transduction mode. A colorimetric-photothermal dual-response immunoassay was constructed with AgPdCuHNs achieving colorimetric and photothermal detection limits of 0.071 and 0.018 ng mL−1 for Albendazole monitoring, which were approximately 4- and 15-fold lower than that of AuNPs-LFIA (0.279 ng mL−1), respectively. This study demonstrates the effectiveness of AgPdCuHNs-LFIA in establishing high-performance sensing and can be extended to a wide range of future point-of-care testing applications.

Mn2+–Mn2+ Dimers Induced Robust Light Absorption in Heavy Mn2+ Doped ZnAl2O4 Near‐Infrared Phosphor with an Excellent Photoluminescence Quantum Yield and Thermal Stability

AbstractTransition metal ions, such as Cr3+, Fe3+, and Ni2+, are widely recognized activators for efficient broadband near‐infrared (NIR) phosphors. However, the potential of Mn2+ ions as NIR‐emitting activators is relatively overlooked due to their typically narrowband emission in the visible spectral region and relatively weak absorption. Herein, a heavy Mn2+‐doped Zn1‐xAl2O4: xMn2+ (ZAO: xMn2+) phosphor is presented that exhibits a single NIR emission band peaked at 830 nm with a bandwidth of 135 nm under excitation at 450 nm. Through comprehensive structural and spectral analysis, this NIR band is attributed to the emission originating from Mn2+ ions within the MnO6 octahedra. Importantly, the formation of Mn2+–Mn2+ dimers breaks the spin‐forbidden rule and significantly enhances the transition probability, as supported by the excited state dynamic analysis. Consequently, the optimal ZAO: 0.70Mn2+ sample shows high internal/external photoluminescence quantum yields of 85.8%/36.9%, along with good thermal stability demonstrated by the emission intensity at 423 K retains 60% of that at 298 K. Finally, a prototype NIR pc‐LED device is fabricated by combining ZAO: 0.70Mn2+ phosphor with a 450 nm blue diode chip, generating an NIR output power of 28.84 mW at 100 mA. This study provides novel insights into high‐performance Mn2+‐activated NIR phosphors.

Real-time measurement of pump beam polarization through the transmitted light intensity in a polarized alkali metal vapor cell

A laser beam with left-/right-handed circular polarization is generally used to create the oriented atomic spins for precision measurements in a spin-exchange relaxation-free (SERF) co-magnetometer. The fluctuation of laser polarization interferes with the spin polarization of alkali metal atoms, leading to the system performance degradation. Here, we report a method for real-time polarization state measurement by using the transmitted light intensity of the pump beam passing through the vapor cell. Based on the principle of circular dichroism, the optical absorption model of polarized alkali metal atoms is established. The simulation results of the transmittance of the pump laser with different polarization states through the alkali metal vapor cell are given and verified by experiments. The experimental results show that the circularly polarized beam has the weakest absorption, while the linearly polarized laser beam is absorbed the strongest. The achieved measurement accuracy stands at an impressive 98.83 %. This work provides a simple and easy-to-use way to measure the polarization state of the laser beam used in the vapor cell devices, particularly the microfabricated prototypes with limited space.

Study on the ability of indoor plants to absorb and purify benzene pollution

The ability of indoor plants to purify benzene pollution is the basic basis for the selection of plants for ecological remediation of indoor benzene pollution. In this study, the purification rate and the purification amount per unit leaf area of 13 test plants at three benzene concentrations were determined by indoor fumigation experiments, and the benzene absorption and purification abilityability of indoor plants were comprehensively evaluated. The results showed that (1) there was a significant correlation between benzene concentration and purification rate and purification amount per unit leaf area. (2) At the three concentrations, Spathiphyllum floribundum showed the highest purification rate and Sansevieria trifasciata var. laurentii showed the highest purification per unit leaf area. (3) The combined results showed that Sansevieria trifasciata var. laurentii, Spathiphyllum floribundum and Aloe arborescens were the strongest absorbers and purifiers, while Podocarpus nagi and Anthurium andraeanum ‘Pink champin’ had the weakest absorption and purification capacity. The results of this study provide a theoretical basis and reference for the selection of plants with strong capacities to adsorb and purify benzene pollution in indoor air.

Thermal Conductivity of Liquid Cyclohexane, n-Decane, n-Hexadecane, and Squalane at Atmospheric Pressure up to 353 K Determined with a Steady-State Parallel-Plate Instrument

The present work reports experimental data on the thermal conductivity of the four hydrocarbons cyclohexane, n-decane, n-hexadecane, and squalane in the liquid state at ambient pressure up to temperatures of 353.15 K. Absolute measurements were performed with a steady-state guarded parallel-plate instrument (GPPI) with an average expanded (coverage factor k = 2) measurement uncertainty of 2 %. For the linear alkanes n-decane and n-hexadecane as well as the cyclic compound cyclohexane, the measured thermal conductivities agree with reference correlations in the literature, indicating the reliability of the technique used for the study of fluids with relatively low thermal conductivities and weak absorption of radiation. For the first time, experimental data are determined for the long-branched alkane squalane between (278 and 353) K, which cannot be accurately represented with estimation methods commonly used in the literature. In summary, the present measurement results confirm the existing database for representative linear and cyclic hydrocarbons and provide first experimental thermal conductivities for squalane.

Heterostructures enhance the absorption of lanthanides

Lanthanide-doped nanoparticles (LnNPs) show unique optical properties and have been demonstrated in various applications, including imaging, optogenetics, photothermal therapy, photodynamic therapy, light-controlled release/cross-linking, anticounterfeiting, lasing, sensing, and super-resolution microscopy. One of the key and urgent limitations of LnNPs is the weak and narrow absorption of lanthanides. Fabrication of heterostructures will overcome this hurdle and enhance the performance of LnNPs. Developing novel heterostructures to enhance the absorption of lanthanides and studying the energy transfer pathways and efficiencies are of broad interest to the chemical and physical research community. There is currently no systematic review to summarize different types of LnNP heterostructures. Thus, this review will summarize five types of heterostructures combining LnNPs with organic and inorganic dyes, plasmonics, semiconducting quantum dots, and metal–organic frameworks. The enhancement of absorption and the improvement of light conversion performance are compared and discussed. This review also discusses the energy transfer pathways and efficiencies between LnNPs and other components and provides suggestions to form heterostructures with enhanced absorption and efficient energy transfer for future applications. We hope this review will further inspire active development and study of lanthanide-based heterostructures with stronger absorption, better light conversion performance, and ease of multifunctionality.

The Population of Small Near-Earth Objects: Composition, Source Regions, and Rotational Properties

The study of small (<300 m) near-Earth objects (NEOs) is important because they are more closely related than larger objects to the precursors of meteorites that fall on Earth. Collisions of these bodies with Earth are also more frequent. Although such collisions cannot produce massive extinction events, they can still produce significant local damage. Here we present the results of a photometric and spectroscopic survey of small NEOs that include near-infrared spectra of 84 objects with a mean diameter of 126 m and photometric data of 59 objects with a mean diameter of 87 m. We found that S-complex asteroids are the most abundant among the NEOs, comprising ∼66% of the sample. Most asteroids in the S-complex were found to have compositions consistent with LL-chondrites. Our study revealed the existence of NEOs with spectral characteristics similar to those in the S-complex but that could be hidden within the C- or X-complex due to their weak absorption bands. We suggest that the presence of metal or shock darkening could be responsible for the attenuation of the absorption bands. These objects have been grouped into a new subclass within the S-complex called Sx-types. The dynamical modeling showed that 83% of the NEOs escaped from the ν 6 resonance, 16% from the 3:1, and just 1% from the 5:2 resonance. Lightcurves and rotational periods were derived from the photometric data. No clear trend between the axis ratio and the absolute magnitude or rotational period of the NEOs was found.

LED-based Fourier transform absorption spectroscopy of HD17O in 13,165–14,060 cm−1 spectral region

The high-resolution absorption spectrum of HD17О has been recorded for the first time in the range of 13,165–14,060 cm−1 on a LED-based IFS-125 M Fourier transform spectrometer with a spectral resolution of 0.02 cm−1, at a pressure of 29 millibars and optical path length of 3480 cm. An EDEN-1L53-R LED was used as the radiation source that provided a high signal-to-noise ratio and enabled weak absorption lines to be recorded with intensities of the order of 1 × 10−27 cm/molecule. The lines were assigned based on variational calculations and effective Hamiltonian models. As a result of analysis, experimental information on the parameters of 770 spectral lines assigned to 5 vibrational bands of HD17О was obtained for the first time, and 284 experimental energy lines for 5 vibrational states (021), (103), (004), (0110) and (520) were determined. The obtained experimental results are compared with calculated data. A total of 2,941 rovibrational transitions for the HD17O molecule were compiled using the Rydberg-Ritz method.

Deep-Ultraviolet Photoexcitation of Aqueous Urea Forms Carbamic Acid/Carbamate in Less Than One Picosecond.

Urea is believed to have been essential to the synthesis of prebiotic nucleotides and thereby the RNA or DNA of the first lifeforms. Models suggesting that life began in wet-dry cycles around shallow aquatic ponds imply that reactants such as urea were exposed to deep ultraviolet irradiation from the young sun. Detrimental photodissociation of urea induced by deep UV excitation potentially challenges these models. We here follow the primary deep ultraviolet photochemistry of aqueous urea. The data show that urea is barely excited at 200 nm due to weak ultraviolet absorption. The likelihood of photodissociation is further reduced by strong intra-molecular coupling of the CN and CO stretch vibrations accompanied by an efficient dissipation of the excitation energy to the surrounding water molecules mitigated by urea-water hydrogen bonds. We find that 54±5 % of the excited urea molecules dissociate. Reactions between the photoproducts and surrounding solvent molecules form carbamic acid or the carbamate anions within 0.6 ps. The molecules that do not dissociate return to the electronic ground state in 2 ps. Interestingly, the photodissociation processes of urea in the aqueous phase is different from earlier reported reactions observed following the VUV photolysis of urea in noble gas matrices and highlight the potential influence of water on the prebiotic photochemistry.

Boosting the UV-vis-NIR Photodetection Performance of MoS2 through the Cavity Enhancement Effect and Bulk Heterojunction Strategy.

Navigating more effective methods to enhance the photon utilization of photodetectors poses a significant challenge. This study initially investigates the impact of morphological alterations in 2H-MoS2 on photodetector (PD) performance. The results reveal that compared to layered MoS2 (MoS2 NLs), MoS2 nanotubes (MoS2 NTs) impart a cavity enhancement effect through multiple light reflections. This structural feature significantly enhances the photodetection performance of the MoS2-based PDs. We further employ the heterojunction strategy to construct Y-TiOPc NPs:MoS2 NTs, utilizing Y-TiOPc NPs (Y-type titanylphthalocyanine) as the vis-NIR photosensitizer and MoS2 NTs as the photon absorption enhancer. This approach not only addresses the weak absorption of MoS2 NTs in the near-infrared region but also enhances carrier generation, separation, and transport efficiency. Additionally, the band bending phenomenon induced by trapped-electrons at the interface between ITO and the photoactive layer significantly enhances the hole tunneling injection capability from the external circuit. By leveraging the synergistic effects of the aforementioned strategies, the PD based on Y-TiOPc NPs:MoS2 NTs (Y:MT-PD) exhibits superior photodetection performance in the wavelength range of 365-940 nm compared to MoS2 NLs-based PD and MoS2 NTs-based PD. Particularly noteworthy are the peak values of key metrics for Y:MT-PD, such as EQE, R, and D* that are 4947.6%, 20588 mA/W, and 1.94 × 1012 Jones, respectively. The multiperiod time-resolved photocurrent response curves of Y:MT-PD also surpass those of the other two PDs, displaying rapid, stable, and reproducible responses across all wavelengths. This study provides valuable insights for the further development of photoactive materials with a high photon utilization efficiency.

Glucose derived carbon encapsulated boron nitride core-shell composites for efficient electromagnetic microwave absorption

Hexagonal boron nitride (h-BN) has the advantages of outstanding insulation, high thermal conductivity and excellent chemical stability, which promote the wide application of h-BN in thermal interface electronic packaging and other related fields. However, due to the poor dielectric loss ability of h-BN, which leads to its weak absorption capacity of electromagnetic waves (EMW), so it limits its practical application in related advantageous fields. In this paper, glucose-derived carbon-encapsulated BN core-shell composites (C@BN) were prepared by a simple hydrothermal reaction followed by high-temperature pyrolysis. The dielectric loss capacity of the C@BN was investigated by manipulating the concentration of glucose solution and pyrolysis temperature. Specifically, by adjusting the glucose derived carbon defect to induce polarization loss and impedance matching performance, so that more EMW entering the interior of the composite is absorbed and dissipated. The results show that C@BN obtained at 800 °C shows the best EMW absorption performance when the concentration of glucose solution is 3.6 wt%. The minimum reflection loss value (RLmin) is −43.5 dB and the maximum width effective absorption bandwidth (EABmax) of 6.72 GHz. Therefore, this study provides a reliable reference for the preparation of h-BN based EMW absorbing materials.

Sensitive Detection of OCS Using Thermal Conversion Combined with Spectral Reconstruction Filtering Differential Optical Absorption Spectroscopy.

Carbonyl sulfide (OCS) is a toxic gas produced during industrial processes that poses risks to both human health and industrial equipment. Therefore, detecting OCS concentrations plays a crucial role in early hazard warning. This paper presents an online system for detecting OCS at the ppb level using thermal conversion and spectral reconstruction filtering differential optical absorption spectroscopy (SRF-DOAS). First, OCS, which is not suitable for DOAS due to its weak absorption characteristics, is completely transformed into SO2 with strong absorption characteristics under high-temperature conditions. Then, the spectral reconstruction filtering method (SRF) is proposed to eliminate the noise and interference. The core idea of the method is to arrange the spectrum according to the spectral intensity from small to large rather than wavelength, reconstructing the spectrum into a new spectrum with linear characteristics. The reconstructed spectrum can remove noise and interference by linear fitting and retain the characteristic of SO2 oscillation absorption. Next, we demonstrate the ability of the reconstructed spectral method to remove noise and interference by comparing the spectra of the inverse-reconstructed gas mixture and SO2. The relative deviation of 0.88% at 100 ppb and detection limit of 7.26 ppb*m for OCS were obtained using the SRF-DOAS method. Finally, the reliability of the system was confirmed by measurements of OCS concentrations in mixture gas of OCS and air, as well as in human exhaled breath.

Physicochemical properties and fractal characterizations of the functionalized porous clinoptilolites for controlling alginate delivery in growing cauliflower and leaf mustard

Using natural clinoptilolite (NCP) as a carrier and alginate (Alg)-calcium as an active species, the porous silicon calcium alginate nanocomposite (Alg-Ca-NCP) was successfully fabricated via adsorption-covalence-hydrogen bond. Its structural features and physicochemical properties were detailed investigated by various characterizations. The results indicated that Alg-Ca-NCP presented the disordered lamellar structures with approximately uniform particles in size of 300–500 nm. Specially, their surface fractal evolutions between the irregular roughness and dense structures were demonstrated via the SAXS patterns. The results elucidated that the abundant micropores of NCP were beneficial for unrestricted diffusing of Alg-Ca, which was conducive to facilitate a higher loading and sustainable releasing. The Ca content of leaf mustard treated with Alg-Ca-NCP-0.5 was 484.5 mg/100g on the 21st day, higher than that by water (CK) and CaCl2 solution treatments, respectively. Meanwhile, the prepared Alg-Ca-NCPs presented the obvious anti-aging effects on peroxidase drought stress of mustard leaves. These demonstrations provided a simple and effective method to synthesize Alg-Ca-NCPs as delivery nanocomposites, which is useful to improve the weak absorption and low utilization of calcium alginate by plants.

Waveguide-integrated twisted bilayer graphene photodetectors

Graphene photodetectors have exhibited high bandwidth and capability of being integrated with silicon photonics (SiPh), holding promise for future optical communication devices. However, they usually suffer from a low photoresponsivity due to weak optical absorption. In this work, we have implemented SiPh-integrated twisted bilayer graphene (tBLG) detectors and reported a responsivity of 0.65 A W–1 for telecom wavelength 1,550 nm. The high responsivity enables a 3-dB bandwidth of >65 GHz and a high data stream rate of 50 Gbit s–1. Such high responsivity is attributed to the enhanced optical absorption, which is facilitated by van Hove singularities in the band structure of high-mobility tBLG with 4.1o twist angle. The uniform performance of the fabricated photodetector arrays demonstrates a fascinating prospect of large-area tBLG as a material candidate for heterogeneous integration with SiPh.

Erythrocyte-like ACET anchored on graphitic carbon nitride with activating π-conjugated electron transfer for enhanced photocatalytic hydrogen production

Activating π-conjugated electron transfer in graphitic carbon nitride (g-C3N4), not only enhances the absorption of solar light, but also breaks through energy barrier, sequentially leading to increased photocatalytic hydrogen production. However, g-C3N4 is prone to agglomeration, wide bandgap, weak absorption of visible light, poor electrical conductivity and so on, which seriously restrict its photocatalytic performance, therefore activating π-conjugated electron transfer is confronted with great challenges. Herein, we show that activating π-conjugated electron transfer by breaking tri-s-triazine unit of g-C3N4 through a simple one-step gas template method. As a result, the best performed CN-4 sample exhibits an outstanding hydrogen production rate of 1282 μmol h−1 g−1, which is 455% higher than that of the pristine g-C3N4 (282 μmol h−1 g−1). Moreover, the density functional theory (DFT) calculations suggest that the original π-conjugated electron equilibrium system has been a significant transformation by C-doping. The results present a new direction of thought that utilizes π-conjugated electron transfer to enhance the photocatalytic hydrogen production by breaking tri-s-triazine unit.

Ion gradient induced self-powered flexible strain sensor

To cope with energy hazards and reduce frequent battery replacement of strain sensors, various self-powered flexible strain sensors (including piezoelectric, triboelectric and electrochemical types) have developed recent years. However, the piezoelectric and triboelectric strain sensors cannot monitor static strain, and electrochemical strain sensors face the problem of performance degradation. Herein, inspired by ion gradient generators, a self-powered flexible strain sensor based on strain regulated ion gradient strategy is constructed. The sensor consists of elastic yarn coated with carbon nanotubes (CNTs), LiCl-filter paper (FP) and latex tube encapsulation. LiCl-FP with excellent water molecules absorption performance is wrapped on one side of the elastic yarn, forming a high humidity region in the sensor. The part of the elastic yarn that is not covered by LiCl-FP has weak water molecules absorption performance, forming a low humidity region in the sensor. The ions in the sensor move directionally from the high humidity region to the low humidity region, forming an ion gradient and generating voltage/current. The test results indicate that the sensor exhibits a wide strain detection range (0.5%–100%) and good repeatability (1000 times). The strain sensing mechanism can be attributed to the strain regulated ion gradient and the resistance strain effect. In addition, the strain sensing function of the sensor is verified by monitoring respiration. This work opens a new avenue for development of self-powered strain sensor using strain regulated ion gradient.

Magnolia biondii flower extract attenuates UVB-induced skin damage through high-mobility group box protein B1.

Magnolia biondii, a plant containing many magnolian-like compounds in its flowers or buds, exhibits anti-inflammatory and antiallergic effects; however, no study has addressed its effect on alleviating ultraviolet light (UV)-induced skin damage. We thus aimed at studying the effects of M. biondii flower extract (MB) on UVB-induced skin damage and determine the relationship between cell damage and damage-associated molecular patterns (DAMPs). Reconstructed epidermal models and foreskin samples were selected to detect cellular reactions after UVB irradiation and MB treatment. MTT, haematoxylin-eosin and immunofluorescence staining were used to examine total viability, sunburned cells and expression and migration of DAMPs at 16 or 48 h. Prostaglandin E2 (PGE-2) and interleukin 8 (IL-8) levels were measured using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays. A clinical UVB-damaged test was carried out on human arms subjected to MB pre- or post-treatment. Human skin probes were used to measure erythema, melanin, ITA° and transepidermal water loss (TEWL), while skin photos were captured using the VISIA system. MB is rich in lignans such as magnolin, pinoresinol dimethyl ether and fargesin, and shows weak UV absorption at 280-320 nm. Coculturing with MB for 16 or 48 h after UVB irradiation improved the tissue viability and structure of Skinovo-Epi, and reduced the expression and migration of high mobility group box protein B1 (HMGB1) as well as the expression of IL-8 and PGE-2. In the excised foreskin treated with MB after UVB irradiation, the generation of 8-hidroxy-2-deoxyguanosine and nuclear transfer of HMGB1 were reduced. When pre-treated with MB for 3 days, UVB-induced skin erythema and ITA° were significantly decreased. When post-treated with MB for 5 days, a decrease in skin erythema, melanin and TEWL values and an increase in skin ITA° were observed. Treatment with MB attenuated UVB-induced skin damage, such as erythema, pigmentation and skin barrier function, by improving the tissue viability and structure and reducing sunburned cells and skin inflammation. This effect may be related to DNA damage, which causes the migration of HMGB1 from the nucleus to the outside of the cell to induce skin inflammation.

Giant Photoluminescence Enhancement of Monolayer WSe2 Using a Plasmonic Nanocavity with On-Demand Resonance.

Monolayer transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDs) are considered promising building blocks for next-generation photonic and optoelectronic devices, owing to their fascinating optical properties. However, their inherent weak light absorption and low quantum yield severely hinder their practical applications. Here, we report up to 18000-fold photoluminescence (PL) enhancement in a monolayer WSe2-coupled plasmonic nanocavity. A spectroscopy-assisted nanomanipulation technique enables the assembly of a nanocavity with customizable resonances to simultaneously enhance the excitation and emission processes. In particular, precise control over the magnetic cavity mode facilitates spectral and spatial overlap with the exciton, resulting in plasmon-exciton intermediate coupling that approaches the maximum emission rate in the hybrid system. Meanwhile, the cavity mode exhibits high radiation directivity, which overwhelmingly directs surface-normal PL emission and leads to a 17-fold increase in the collection efficiency. Our approach opens up a new avenue to enhance the PL intensity of monolayer TMDs, facilitating their implementation in highly efficient optoelectronic devices.

Reciprocally tailored transparent artificial media for frequency and direction dependent light trapping

We propose a quasiperiodic leveled-wave structure whose reciprocal space is represented by spherical belt sections, designed to achieve scattering only for the defined wavelength and direction of incident light. At the same time light is scattered only towards directions of k-vectors for which the waves are trapped by total internal reflection in the structured slab. The trapped light is only weakly scattered and thus spends a long time inside the slab and is attenuated by weak absorption in the slab. The incident light of other direction and/or wavelength is transmitted through the slab almost undisturbed. We quantitatively estimated the scattering mean free paths for incident and trapped light from the first-order Born approximation and develop an analytical model which predicts the absorption for a given slab thickness, refractive index contrast and spherical belt parameters. Reducing the refractive index contrast and thickness of the belt, the selectivity can be increased and the absorption contrast for incident light of different wavelengths can reach 70%. We present numerical simulations with absorption contrast of 63% for refractive index contrast of 0.1, which is in good agreement with our analytical model.

Neutron Reflectivity in Corrosion Research on Metals.

Neutron reflectivity (NR) is potentially a powerful tool for characterizing chemical and morphological changes in thin films and at buried interfaces in corrosion science. While the scope of NR is limited by its inherent demands for low surface roughness and high sample planarity, these drawbacks are compensated for by the unique ability to detect light elements and distinguish between isotopes. Furthermore, the generally weak absorption of neutrons by matter allows the use of bulky sample environments and in situ experiments. In particular, the layer thickness range of 3-100 nm accessible by NR is appropriate for studying air-formed films and passive films, which are crucial for the ability of metallic materials to resist corrosion, as well as for investigating the interaction of metal surfaces with hydrogen and its compounds, e.g., water. Also, NR is suitable for studying early stages of oxide growth on metals at high temperature, including the transition from Cabrera-Mott-type films to Wagner-type growth. Here, we outline key characteristics of NR as applied to the study of corrosion of metals, exemplified by earlier work, and discuss perspectives for future work in the field. The aim of our work is to stimulate the application of the unique capabilities of NR to corrosion science.