AbstractsChemistry

Electron Scattering at Surfaces and Interfaces of Transition Metals

by Pengyuan Zheng




Institution: Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
Department:
Year: 2016
Keywords: Engineering; Materials science
Posted: 02/05/2017
Record ID: 2119049
Full text PDF: http://pqdtopen.proquest.com/#viewpdf?dispub=10010793


Abstract

The effect of surfaces on the electron transport at reduced scales is attracting continuous interest due to its broad impact on both the understanding of materials properties and their application for nanoelectronics. The size dependence of for conductor?s electrical resistivity ? due to electron surface scattering is most commonly described within the framework of Fuchs and Sondheimer (FS) and their various extensions, which uses a phenomenological scattering parameter p to define the probability of electrons being elastically (i.e. specularly) scattered by the surface without causing an increase of ? at reduced size. However, a basic understanding of what surface chemistry and structure parameters determine the specularity p is still lacking. In addition, the assumption of a spherical Fermi surface in the FS model is too simple for transition metals to give accurate account of the actual surface scattering effect. The goal of this study is to develop an understanding of the physics governing electron surface/interface scattering in transition metals and to study the significance of their Fermi surface shape on surface scattering. The advancement of the scientific knowledge in electron surface and interface scattering of transition metals can provide insights into how to design high-conductivity nanowires that will facilitate the viable development of advanced integrated circuits, thermoelectric power generation and spintronics. Sequential in situ and ex situ transport measurements as a function of surface chemistry demonstrate that electron surface/interface scattering can be engineered by surface doping, causing a decrease in the ?. For instance, the ? of 9.3-nm-thick epitaxial and polycrystalline Cu is reduced by 11-13% when coated with 0.75 nm Ni. This is due to electron surface scattering which exhibits a specularity p = 0.7 for the Cu-vacuum interface that transitions to completely diffuse (p = 0) when exposed to air. In contrast, Ni-coated surfaces exhibit partial specularity with p = 0.3 in vacuum and p = 0.15 in air, as Cu2O formation is suppressed, leading to a smaller surface potential perturbation and a lower density of localized surface states, yielding less diffuse electron scattering. The localized surface density of states (LDOS) at the Fermi level N(Ef) as a primary parameter determining the surface scattering specularity is further confirmed by a different surface dopant. In particular, the measured sheet resistance of 9-25-nm-thick epitaxial Cu(001) layers increases when coated with dTi = 0.1-4.0 monolayers (ML) of Ti, but decreases again during exposure to 37 Pa of O2. The corresponding changes in ? are a function of dCu and dTi and are due to a transition from partially specular electron scattering at the Cu surface to completely diffuse scattering at the Cu-Ti interface, and the recovery of surface specularity as the Ti is oxidized. X-ray reflectivity and photoelectron spectroscopy indicate the formation of a 0.47?0.03 nm thick Cu2O surface layer on top of the TiO2-Cu2O during air…