Hyperthermal collisions of silicon clusters with solid surfaces

Pamela M. St. John, Robert L. Whetten

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

59 Scopus citations

Abstract

High yields of intact scattering are found for collisions of mass-selected Si±N clusters (N=5-24) against graphite and silicon surfaces, at impact energies of 0.5-10 eV/atom. This result indicates an unanticipated difficulty in forming bonds during the impact event. The reflected cluster fragments or emits an electron in patterns consistent with gas-phase energetics, and analysis of fragmentation rates specifies an internal energy content of 12-26 percent of the impact energy, depending on cluster size, the surface, and surface temperature. Reactive processes, such as sticking or adhesion, may still dominate at lowest and highest energies.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)330-336
Number of pages7
JournalChemical Physics Letters
Volume196
Issue number3-4
DOIs
StatePublished - Aug 14 1992
Externally publishedYes

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • General Physics and Astronomy
  • Physical and Theoretical Chemistry

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