posted on 2024-01-04, 14:35authored byQiang Zhu, Yuuki Adachi, Huanfei Wen, Rui Xu, Zhihai Cheng, Yasuhiro Sugawara, Yanjun Li
The charge state of noble metal atoms on a semiconductor
surface
is an important factor in surface catalysis. In this study, Au atoms
were deposited on the rutile TiO2(110) surface to characterize
its charge properties using atomic force microscopy with Kelvin probe
force microscopy at 78 K. Au single atoms, dimers, and trimers at
different sites on the surface were investigated. Positively charged
Au atoms were verified at oxygen sites, while negatively charged Au
atoms were found near oxygen vacancy sites. Furthermore, the charge
states of small Au nanoclusters were clarified. Understanding the
charge states of Au atoms is significant for identifying their efficient
catalytic effects in surface catalysis.