About Us
Surfaces and interfaces are the windows through which all materials interact with each other and with their environment. Catalytic gas-surface reactions convert greenhouse gasses into benign compounds. Charge injection at semiconductor surfaces is key to solar energy harvesting. Structure-reactivity relationships at organic interfaces create biological functionality. Interface reactions between electrodes and electrolytes govern energy storage devices. Surface states of topological materials may enable dissipation-free transport of electricity. The unique behavior of electrons at interfaces drives the function of microelectronic devices. These examples are just the tip of the iceberg.
The Mission of the Laboratory for Surface Modification (LSM) is to be a resource for researchers in all areas of the physical and biological sciences searching for a deep knowledge of surface and interface properties and phenomena, and provide the sophisticated instrumentation required for their investigation. To accomplish this mission, the LSM is available for consultation and collaboration on all surface/interface issues that emerge in research and development, and it is a Core Facility that provides users with unparalleled surface analysis and characterization capabilities.
The User Facilities of the LSM include the following: X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy Facility with Thermo K-Alpha and ESCALAB 250xi systems capable of XPS, AR-XPS UPS, REELS, and Sputter Depth Profiling; Ion Scattering Facility with a 1.7 MV General Ionex tandetron accelerator for RBS, ERDA, and NRA; Helium Ion Microscopy Facility is a Zeiss Orion system with a 30 KeV He+ beam capable of nm-scale imaging, lithographic capabilities, and nano-RBS; Transmission Electron Microscopy Facility including a 200 KeV JEOL 2010F and a 60 KeV NION UltraSTEM instrument with atomic-scale spatial resolution and sub-10 meV energy resolution. Other surface and interface instrumentation, is on site and may be accessed in a collaborative mode.
Outreach and Education are key components of the LSM’s mission. Researchers, both inside and outside of Rutgers, are encouraged to contact us and discuss their research needs. Students, postdocs and other researchers may be trained to operate much of our instrumentation on an independent basis. The LSM hosts a weekly seminar series on a wide range of topics focusing on surfaces and interfaces. Periodic workshops are offered to highlight the instrumentation and expertise available at the LSM facilities. A one-semester graduate course in Surface/Interface Science is held biannually and includes both theoretical aspects and experiential learning in surfaces and interfaces.