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Photoemission from Free Particles and Droplets
Loren Ban1, Bruce L Yoder1, Ruth Signorell1
1Department of Chemistry and Applied Biosciences, ETH Zürich, 8093 Zürich, Switzerland;
Annual Review of Physical Chemistry
|February 21, 2020
Summary
Photoemission from small particles and droplets reveals their electronic properties. Advances in aerosol technology and spectroscopy enable new insights into condensed matter physics.
Area of Science:
- Condensed matter physics
- Surface science
- Spectroscopy
Background:
- Photoemission from free particles was theorized 50 years ago but experimentally challenging.
- Recent advances in aerosol technology and photoelectron spectroscopy have revived this field.
- Particles and droplets offer unique platforms for studying electronic properties.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the utility of photoemission from submicrometer dielectric particles and droplets.
- To summarize key applications of this technique in scientific literature.
- To discuss future research directions in the field.
Main Methods:
- Utilizing advances in aerosol generation, characterization, and vacuum transfer.
- Employing photoelectron imaging spectrometers for detailed analysis.
- Leveraging vacuum ultraviolet and ultrafast light sources for excitation.
Main Results:
- Photoemission spectra are sensitive to particle size, shape, and composition.
- This sensitivity allows for the retrieval of genuine electronic properties of condensed phases.
- Demonstrated utility across various applications in condensed matter research.
Conclusions:
- Photoemission from dielectric particles and droplets is a powerful tool for electronic property determination.
- The technique provides a wealth of information unobtainable from bulk materials.
- Further research promises deeper understanding of nanoscale electronic phenomena.
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