Physico-Chemical Phenomena in Thin Films and at Solid Surfaces

This book is devoted to the consideration of the different processes taking place in thin films and at surfaces. When possible, these processes are considered in the frame of the unified theoretical approach. Since the most important physico-chemical phenomena in such media are accompanied by the rearrangement of intra- and intermolecular coordinates and consequently a surrounding molecular ensemble, the theory of radiationless multi-vibrational transitions is used for their description. Hence, the first part of the monograph includes: - radiationless transitions such as electron and photo-induced transfer; - ab initio methods for calculating potential energy surfaces for excited electronic states, electronic and vibronic spectra, and rates of radiationless transitions, and examples of their application to molecular and condensed phase systems; - the density matrix method for theoretical study of ultrafast radiationless transitions; - approaches to the study of femto-second time-resolved spectra. The second part of the book considers the numerous surface phenomena (formation of point defects, spectral characteristics, diffusion, phase transitions and catalytic reactions). The third part describes the preparation methods and characteristics of different types of thin films (chemical vapor deposition, Langmuir-Blodgett, sol-gel, vacuum magnetron sputtering, laser electrodispersion) as well as processes occurring in them (growth mechanisms, chemical reactions spectral characteristics, and thermodynamic, optical, electrical, magnetic, transport and sensor properties). The description of all these observed phenomena, when possible, is conducted based on the theoretical approaches considered in the first part of the book. Both experimental and theoretical descriptions are represented. Media rearrangement coupled with the reagent transformation largely determines the absolute value and temperature dependence of the rate constants and other characteristics of the considered processes. These effects are described at the atomic or molecular level based on the multi-phonon theory, starting from the first pioneering studies through to contemporary studies. A number of questions are included at the end of many chapters to further reinforce the material presented.Trakhtenberg, Leonid I. is the author of 'Physico-Chemical Phenomena in Thin Films and at Solid Surfaces ', published 2007 under ISBN 9780123725233 and ISBN 0123725232.