We mantain an active program in the area of surface structure determination. As part of the collaborative IRG effort we study nitride thin films deposited by magnetron sputtering . We also have an interest in understanding the complicated nucleation and growth process of cubic boron nitride thin films. See also the Hard Coatings IRG . Quasicrystals Quasicrytalline materials are unique in their crystallography.
Current project is to use magnetron sputtering to prepare quasicrystalline thin films.
Thin films are grown by magnetron sputtering. As a member of the Institute for Environmental Catalysis, we work to study the molecular science of oxidation on an atomic scale. The scientific focus for IEC derives from a recognition that the understanding and improvement of one type of reaction, the selective catalytic oxidation of organic compounds, could reduce the environmental impact of a broad range of industrial activities. Using high resolution electron microscopy in tandem with other analytical techniques such as XPS we hope to elucidate the factors that control selectivity in catalytic oxidation as well as understand the atomic structure of these oxide surfaces and how the adsorption of reactant species affect the surface structure and properties.