The purpose of this article is to describe the basic physical processes involved in the nucleation and growth of thin films of materials on solid surfaces. In this introduction the three modes of crystal growth which are thought to occur on surfaces in the absence of interdiffusion are described, and the relationships between the thermodynamics of adsorption and the kinetics of crystal growth are explored in general terms. This is followed by a brief review of atomistic nucleation theory, explaining the relations of such theories to experimental observables. In the next three sections, recent experimental examples of these three growth modes are given, which are interpreted where possible in terms of nucleation and growth theory. The last section discusses observations on the shapes of growing crystallites and the relation of such observations to nucleation and surface diffusion processes.

https://iopscience.iop.org/article/10.1088/0034-4885/47/4/002/pdf

Nucleation and growth of thin films

Molecular beam epitaxy

Condensation in the primitive solar nebula

Periodic, self-consistent density functional theory (DFT-GGA) calculations are used to investigate the water gas shift reaction (WGSR) mechanism on Cu(111). The thermochemistry and activation energy barriers for all the elementary steps of the commonly accepted redox mechanism, involving complete water activation to atomic oxygen, are presented. Through our calculations, we identify carboxyl, a new reactive intermediate, which plays a central role in WGSR on Cu(111). The thermochemistry and activation energy barriers of the elementary steps of a new reaction path, involving carboxyl, are studied. A detailed DFT-based microkinetic model of experimental reaction rates, accounting for both the previous and the new WGSR mechanism show that, under relevant experimental conditions, (1) the carboxyl-mediated route is the dominant path, and (2) the initial hydrogen abstraction from water is the rate-limiting step. Formate is a stable “spectator” species, formed predominantly through CO2 hydrogenation. In addition...

On the mechanism of low-temperature water gas shift reaction on copper.

Deactivation of supported metal catalysts by carbon or coke formation is a problem of serious magnitude in steam reforming, methanation, and other important catalytic processes. Its causes are generally threefold: (1) fouling of the metal surface, (2) blockage of catalysts pores and voids, and/or (3) actual physical disintegration of the catalyst support. Since loss of catalytic activity and physical destruction of the catalyst by carbon deposits can occur rapidly (within hours or days) under unfavorable conditions, understanding and control of these effects are of major technological and economical importance.

Carbon Deposition in Steam Reforming and Methanation

Kinetics of the reaction of oxygen with clean nickel single crystal surfaces: I. Ni(100) surface

The kinetics of the reaction between oxygen and sulfur on a Ni/111/ surface.

The adsorption and decomposition of ethylene on Ni(110)

Graphite grain formation in cool stars examined on basis of molecular equilibrium data for stellar atmospheres

/pdf/on-the-formation-of-graphite-grains-in-cool-stars-5daed4wpur.pdf

John B. Hudson

Papers

Kinetics of the reaction of oxygen with clean nickel single crystal surfaces: I. Ni(100) surface

The kinetics of the reaction between oxygen and sulfur on a Ni/111/ surface.

The adsorption and decomposition of ethylene on Ni(110)

On the formation of graphite grains in cool stars

The adsorption and decomposition of N2O on nickel (100)