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Scanning tunnelling microscopy studies of galena: the mechanism of oxidation in air

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dc.contributor.authorKim, B.S.
dc.contributor.authorHayes, R.A.
dc.contributor.authorPrestidge, C.A.
dc.contributor.authorRalston, J.
dc.contributor.authorSmart, R.S.C.
dc.date.issued1994
dc.description.abstractScanning tunnelling microscopy (STM) was used to study the surface oxidation of galena in air. The main of the study was to compare the surface oxidation behaviour of synthetic and natural galena samples and to contrast the different mechanisms for the air oxidation process. Topographical imaging of the galena surfaces showed the growth of nanometre-scale oxidation products with time. The position of these oxidation products and the rate of their formation depended strongly on galena type. Oxidation products formed on natural galena after a few minutes exposure to air, whereas synthetic galena required an induction period of over an hour before oxidation products could be detected. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy confirmed the different rates of oxidation and showed lead hydroxide and sulphate to be the main oxidation products. Oxidation product growth on the synthetic sample occured preferentially on edges and dislocations rather than on the faces of the galena surface. Oxidation product growth on the natural galena showed no such preference, with indiscriminate coverage of edges and faces. It is proposed that impurities present at the surface of the natural galena, which are absent in the synthetic galena, are responsible for the significantly different oxidation behaviour.
dc.identifier.citationApplied Surface Science, 1994; 78(4):385-397
dc.identifier.doi10.1016/0169-4332(94)90063-9
dc.identifier.issn0169-4332
dc.identifier.urihttps://hdl.handle.net/1959.8/41236
dc.language.isoen
dc.publisherElsevier
dc.relation.fundingARC
dc.rightsCopyright 1994 Elsevier
dc.source.urihttps://doi.org/10.1016/0169-4332(94)90063-9
dc.subjectGalena
dc.subjectscanning tunnelling microscopy
dc.subjectX ray photoelectron spectroscopy
dc.titleScanning tunnelling microscopy studies of galena: the mechanism of oxidation in air
dc.typeJournal article
pubs.publication-statusPublished
ror.mmsid9915912273301831

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