Dynamics at Surfaces: Understanding Energy Dissipation and Physicochemical Processes at the Atomic and Molecular Level

Download or read book Dynamics at Surfaces: Understanding Energy Dissipation and Physicochemical Processes at the Atomic and Molecular Level written by Marco Sacchi and published by Frontiers Media SA. This book was released on 2024-04-26 with total page 120 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Energy release to solid interfaces following chemical reactions is ubiquitous in a vast range of phenomena. Energy dissipation and dynamical disorder (surface entropy), surface friction and molecular diffusion control the rates of heterogeneous catalytic reactions, the efficiency of novel technology, lubrication as well as materials growth including self-assembly and nano-structures. Yet we understand little about the underlying nature of these mechanisms. Fundamentally, energy dissipation including interactions with phonons and electron-hole pairs determines the lifetime of molecular vibrations and rotations as well as the decoherence rate of quantum states. These processes form a central point for many aspects in physical chemistry, are embedded in the mechanisms that control surface dynamical processes and are critical factors in catalysis. They are equally relevant for physicochemical processes in the Earth's atmosphere and astrochemistry occurring on cosmic dust grains.