'Hot' oxygen atoms on titanium dioxide motivated by more than just temperature

User rating: 4.3 / 5 after 10 vote(s)

An oxygen molecule (yellow top right) splits when encountering a vacancy on a titanium oxide surface. One atom fills the vacancy and the other can move a couple spaces away (bottom right).
An oxygen molecule (yellow, top right) splits when encountering a vacancy on a titanium oxide surface. One atom fills the vacancy and the other can move a couple spaces away (bottom right).

Like two ballroom dancers waltzing together, the two atoms of an oxygen molecule severed by a metal catalyst usually behave identically. But new research reveals that on a particular catalyst, split oxygen atoms act like a couple dancing the tango: one oxygen atom plants itself while the other shimmies away, probably with energy partially stolen from the stationary one.


Full story »
All News summaries from General Science news
All News summaries for February 09, 2008
Goto Archive PhysOrg Forum Goto Archive Video Goto Archive Editorials Goto Archive Free Magazines Goto Archive Newsletter

News Archive