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Updated: Jul 13, 2026

Analysis of Complex Molecules and Their Reactions on Surfaces by Means of Cluster-Induced Desorption/Ionization Mass Spectrometry
Published on: March 1, 2020
Nonlocal dissociative chemistry of adsorbed molecules induced by localized electron injection into metal surfaces
Peter Maksymovych1, Daniel B Dougherty, X-Y Zhu
1Surface Science Center, Department of Chemistry, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15260, USA.
Abstract:
We present a novel approach to surface chemistry studies using scanning tunneling microscopy (STM), where dissociation of molecules adsorbed on metal surfaces is induced nonlocally in a 10-100 nm radius around the STM tip by hot electrons that originate from the STM tip and transport on the surface. Nonlocal molecular excitation eliminates the influence of the STM tip on the outcome of the electron-induced chemical reaction. The spatial attenuation of the nonlocal reaction is used as a direct measure of hot-electron transport on the surface.
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