Christenson, HK and Thomson, NH orcid.org/0000-0001-7332-790X (2016) The nature of the air-cleaved mica surface. Surface Science Reports, 71 (2). pp. 367-390. ISSN 0167-5729
Abstract
The accepted image of muscovite mica is that of an inert and atomically smooth surface, easily prepared by cleavage in an ambient atmosphere. Consequently, mica is extensively used a model substrate in many fundamental studies of surface phenomena and as a substrate for AFM imaging of biomolecules. In this review we present evidence from the literature that the above picture is not quite correct. The mica used in experimental work is almost invariably cleaved in laboratory air, where a reaction between the mica surface, atmospheric CO2 and water occurs immediately after cleavage. The evidence suggests very strongly that as a result the mica surface becomes covered by up to one formula unit of K2CO3 per nm2, which is mobile under humid conditions, and crystallises under drier conditions. The properties of mica in air or water vapour cannot be fully understood without reference to the surface K2CO3, and many studies of the structure of adsorbed water on mica surfaces may need to be revisited. With this new insight, however, the air-cleaved mica should provide exciting opportunities to study phenomena such as two-dimensional ion diffusion, electrolyte effects on surface conductivity, and two-dimensional crystal nucleation.
Metadata
Item Type: | Article |
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Authors/Creators: |
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Copyright, Publisher and Additional Information: | © 2016, Elsevier. This is an author produced version of a paper published in Surface Science Reports. Uploaded in accordance with the publisher's self-archiving policy. |
Keywords: | Mica; Water adsorption; Potassium carbonate; Water structure; Capillary condensation; atomic force microscopy |
Dates: |
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Institution: | The University of Leeds |
Academic Units: | The University of Leeds > Faculty of Engineering & Physical Sciences (Leeds) > School of Physics and Astronomy (Leeds) > Molecular & Nanoscale Physics The University of Leeds > Faculty of Medicine and Health (Leeds) > School of Dentistry (Leeds) > Oral Biology (Leeds) |
Funding Information: | Funder Grant number EPSRC EP/M003027/1 |
Depositing User: | Symplectic Publications |
Date Deposited: | 28 Jun 2016 12:06 |
Last Modified: | 22 Mar 2018 01:38 |
Published Version: | http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.surfrep.2016.03.001 |
Status: | Published |
Publisher: | Elsevier |
Identification Number: | 10.1016/j.surfrep.2016.03.001 |
Open Archives Initiative ID (OAI ID): | oai:eprints.whiterose.ac.uk:98914 |