Nanostructure and properties of metal surfaces and thin oxide layers


Dr. Philippe Marcus
Directeur du Laboratoire de Physico-Chimie des Surfaces de l'ENSCP Chimie ParisTech
Ecole Nationale Supérieure de Chimie de Paris


Mackiw Lecture


3:30pm - October 31, 2013
(ETLC) 1-001


Host: Dr. Jingli Luo


Abstract:

Metal surfaces are reactive and therefore interact with their environment. This is the case for nearly all metallic materials exposed to air or water in service conditions. Understanding the early stages of oxidation or corrosion of metal surfaces at the nanoscale is a key to a better design and an improved control of engineering metals. The lecture will focus on a surface science approach of the chemical degradation (corrosion) and protection of metals and alloys.


The following topics will be addressed:

  • the early structural and chemical changes taking place when a metal surface is exposed to water,
  • the nanostructure of ultra-thin oxide layers on metals and alloys,
  • the local electronic structure of oxidized metal surfaces,
  • the role of surface defects in localized attack leading to corrosion.


I will emphasize the importance of the analytical strategy, based on the use of Scanning Tunneling Microscopy (STM), Scanning Tunneling Spectroscopy (STS), X-Ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy (XPS), Time of Flight Secondary Ion Mass Spectrometry (ToF-SIMS) combined with measurements of the chemical or electrochemical reaction kinetics.


The interplay of atomistic modeling/simulation with the experimental approach will be discussed. Applications in various industrial areas, including energy and transport, will also be described.


Biography:

philippemarcus_img.jpegDr. Philippe Marcus is Director of Research at CNRS (Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique) and Director of the Laboratory of Physical Chemistry of Surfaces at Ecole Nationale Supérieure de Chimie de Paris, Chimie ParisTech, France. Dr Marcus received his Ph. D. (1979) in Physical Sciences from University Pierre and Marie Curie, Paris, France. His field of research is surface chemistry, surface electrochemistry, and corrosion science, with emphasis on the understanding of the structure and properties of metal and alloy surfaces.


Dr. Marcus has published over 400 papers in scientific journals, books and conference proceedings in the areas of surface chemistry and electrochemistry, corrosion science, surface analysis and materials science. He has given over 100 invited lectures at International Conferences. He serves or served on the editorial board of five major journals in Electrochemistry and Corrosion, including Electrochimica Acta and Corrosion Science. Pr. Marcus has received a number of awards and honors, including the 2005 Uhlig Award from the Electrochemical Society, the 2008 Whitney Award from NACE International, the Cavallaro Medal of the European Federation of Corrosion in 2008, the U.R. Evans Award of the UK Institute of Corrosion in 2010, and the Lee Hsun Award of the Institute of Metals Research of the Chinese Academy of Sciences in 2012. He is an elected Fellow of the Electrochemical Society (2005) and of the International Society of Electrochemistry (2009).


Dr. Marcus is the former Chairman of the Electrochemical Materials Science Division of the International Society of Electrochemistry. He is currently President of the European Federation of Corrosion, Chairman of the EFC Working Party on Surface Science and Mechanisms of Corrosion and Protection, and Chairman of the International Steering Committee for the European Conferences on Applications of Surface and Interface Analysis.

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