Collective electronic excitations at metal surfaces are well known to play a key role in a wide spectrum of science, ranging from physics and materials science to biology. Here we focus on a theoretical description of the many-body dynamical electronic response of solids, which underlines the existence of various collective electronic excitations at metal surfaces, such as the conventional surface plasmon, multipole plasmons and the recently predicted acoustic surface plasmon. We also review existing calculations, experimental measurements and applications.

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Theory of surface plasmons and surface-plasmon polaritons

We show that the Raman scattering technique can give complete structural information for one-dimensional systems, such as carbon nanotubes. Resonant confocal micro-Raman spectroscopy of an (n,m) individual single-wall nanotube makes it possible to assign its chirality uniquely by measuring one radial breathing mode frequency omega(RBM) and using the theory of resonant transitions. A unique chirality assignment can be made for both metallic and semiconducting nanotubes of diameter d(t), using the parameters gamma(0) = 2.9 eV and omega(RBM) = 248/d(t). For example, the strong RBM intensity observed at 156 cm(-1) for 785 nm laser excitation is assigned to the (13,10) metallic chiral nanotube on a Si/SiO2 surface.

Structural (n,m) determination of isolated single wall carbon nanotubes by resonant Raman scattering

http://max.materials.drexel.edu/wp-content/uploads/Halim_XPS_of_MXenes-2016.pdf

X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy of select multi-layered transition metal carbides (MXenes)

Self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) of alkanethiols and dialkanethiols on gold are key elements for building many systems and devices with applications in the wide field of nanotechnology. Despite the progress made in the knowledge of these fascinating two-dimensional molecular systems, there are still several “hot topics” that deserve special attention in order to understand and to control their physical and chemistry properties at the molecular level. This critical review focuses on some of these topics, including the nature of the molecule–gold interface, whose chemistry and structure remain elusive, the self-assembly process on planar and irregular surfaces, and on nanometre-sized objects, and the chemical reactivity and thermal stability of these systems in ambient and aqueous solutions, an issue which seriously limits their technological applications (375 references).

Self-assembled monolayers of thiols and dithiols on gold: new challenges for a well-known system

Light-Emitting Self-Assembled Materials Based on d(8) and d(10) Transition Metal Complexes.

The dispersion and the damping of the sheet plasmon in a graphene monolayer grown on Pt(111) have been studied by using angle-resolved electron energy loss spectroscopy. We found that the dispersion relation of the plasmon mode confined in the graphene sheet is linear, as a consequence of the screening by the metal substrate. Present results demonstrate that the presence of an underlying metal substrate could have striking consequences on the plasmon propagation even in the case of a system which exhibits a weak graphene-substrate interaction. Moreover, we found that Landau damping essentially occurs via interband excitations starting above the Fermi wave vector. On the contrary, intraband transitions do not have a significant influence on the collective mode.

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Evidence for acoustic-like plasmons on epitaxial graphene on Pt(111)

Studying the interaction of CH3SH, methanethiol, with Cu(111) as a model system, we demonstrate the ability of chemical-shift normal incidence x-ray standing wave field measurements to identify the local adsorption geometries of coadsorbed reaction products at different temperatures, a technical problem of broad chemical significance. In the present case the local geometries of four distinct S-containing adsorbate species (intact CH3SH, two thiolate (CH3S-) reaction intermediates and atomic S) are determined.

Following local adsorption sites through a surface chemical reaction: CH3SH on Cu(111)

Kidney collecting-duct cells swell in response to changes in medulla osmolality caused by the transition from antidiuresis to diuresis. Regulatory volume decrease (RVD) mechanisms must be activated to face this hypotonic stress. In Aquaporin-2 (AQP2)-expressing renal CD8 cells, hypotonicity decreased cell surface expression of AQP2 and increased the amount of AQP2 localized intracellularly, whereas the total amount of AQP2 phosphorylated at ser-256 decreased. Analysis of cAMP dynamics using fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) showed that hypotonicity causes a reduction of cAMP, consistent with a decrease in phospho-AQP2. Moreover, hypotonicity caused a profound actin reorganization, associated with the loss of stress fibers and formation of F-actin patches (microspikes) at the cell border. Those changes were regulated by the monomeric GTPase Cdc42. Interestingly, expression of the dominant-negative Cdc42 (N17-Cdc42) prevented the hypotonicity-induced microspike formation and the generation of Cl(-) currents. Hypotonicity also caused the relocation from the cytosol to the plasma membrane and increase in interaction with actin of ICln (nucleotide-sensitive chloride current protein), which is essential for the generation of ion currents activated during RVD. Together, the profound actin remodeling, internalization of AQP2 and translocation of ICln to the plasma membrane during hypotonicity may contribute to RVD after cell swelling in renal medulla.

Hypotonicity induces aquaporin-2 internalization and cytosol-to-membrane translocation of ICln in renal cells.

High-resolution electron energy loss spectroscopy was used to investigate the surface plasmon dispersion in (111)-oriented Au films grown on Cu(111). The measured dispersion of the plasmon mode was positive, as found for Ag. The centroid of the induced charge associated to the plasmon field lies well inside the jellium edge. The damping relation of the Au surface plasmon presented a critical wave vector of 0.11 A−1. For higher values of the parallel momentum transfer, the line width of Au surface plasmon considerably increased as a consequence of the opening of a new decay channel via single-particle transitions.

Vincenzo Formoso

Papers

Evidence for acoustic-like plasmons on epitaxial graphene on Pt(111)

Following local adsorption sites through a surface chemical reaction: CH3SH on Cu(111)

Hypotonicity induces aquaporin-2 internalization and cytosol-to-membrane translocation of ICln in renal cells.

Dispersion and Damping of Gold Surface Plasmon

Surface X-ray diffraction study on the initial oxidation of NiAl(100)