About this Research Topic
Energy release to solid interfaces following chemical reactions is ubiquitous in a vast range of phenomena. Energy dissipation and dynamical disorder (surface entropy), surface friction and molecular diffusion control the rates of heterogeneous catalytic reactions, the efficiency of novel technology, lubrication as well as materials growth including self-assembly and nano-structures. Yet we understand little about the underlying nature of these mechanisms. Fundamentally, energy dissipation including interactions with phonons and electron-hole pairs determines the lifetime of molecular vibrations and rotations as well as the decoherence rate of quantum states. These processes form a central point for many aspects in physical chemistry, are embedded in the mechanisms that control surface dynamical processes and are critical factors in catalysis. They are equally relevant for physicochemical processes in the Earth's atmosphere and astrochemistry occurring on cosmic dust grains.
To be able to control self-assembly and other technologically relevant interfacial processes, including catalysis, electrochemistry and photoactivated processes, we need to understand the mechanisms and dynamics of energy dissipation and how it is affected by surface properties. First, we need to obtain a deeper understanding of energy transfer mechanisms between molecules in the gas or liquid phase and surfaces, including further energy dissipation via a variety of routes e.g., phonons and non-adiabatic effects such as electron-phonon coupling.
Current advances in this area include state-to-state molecular beam scattering experiments and single molecular diffusion measurements based on quasi-elastic helium scattering and scanning tunnelling microscopy. Recent progress illustrates that atom-scattering techniques also allow access to the electron-phonon coupling strength and vibrational lifetimes at novel quantum materials or the bending rigidity of 2D materials. Finally, further evolved insight is provided by quantum chemical calculations with embedded electronic friction or the inclusion of long-range many-body correlation effects into density functional theory for characterizing weakly physiosorbed systems. We welcome both theoretical and experimental studies in the form of Original Research, Review, Mini Review and Perspective articles on themes relevant to surface dynamics including, but not limited to:
• Atomic and molecular scattering on surfaces (including free-to-free, free-to-bound and bound-to-bound collisions)
• Quantum chemical or molecular dynamics models of surface dynamics (including diffusion, phonons, non-adiabatic effects, self-assembly)
• Scanning tunnelling microscopy and other microscopy studies of surface dynamics (including order-disorder transitions, phase transitions, self-assembly, diffusion and tribology)
• Theoretical and computational work that addresses the interpretation of dynamics measurements (including atom and neutron scattering, electron-hole pair creation and energy dissipation, vibrational energy dissipation, quantum dynamics on surfaces)
To be able to control self-assembly and other technologically relevant interfacial processes, including catalysis, electrochemistry and photoactivated processes, we need to understand the mechanisms and dynamics of energy dissipation and how it is affected by surface properties. First, we need to obtain a deeper understanding of energy transfer mechanisms between molecules in the gas or liquid phase and surfaces, including further energy dissipation via a variety of routes e.g., phonons and non-adiabatic effects such as electron-phonon coupling.
Current advances in this area include state-to-state molecular beam scattering experiments and single molecular diffusion measurements based on quasi-elastic helium scattering and scanning tunnelling microscopy. Recent progress illustrates that atom-scattering techniques also allow access to the electron-phonon coupling strength and vibrational lifetimes at novel quantum materials or the bending rigidity of 2D materials. Finally, further evolved insight is provided by quantum chemical calculations with embedded electronic friction or the inclusion of long-range many-body correlation effects into density functional theory for characterizing weakly physiosorbed systems. We welcome both theoretical and experimental studies in the form of Original Research, Review, Mini Review and Perspective articles on themes relevant to surface dynamics including, but not limited to:
• Atomic and molecular scattering on surfaces (including free-to-free, free-to-bound and bound-to-bound collisions)
• Quantum chemical or molecular dynamics models of surface dynamics (including diffusion, phonons, non-adiabatic effects, self-assembly)
• Scanning tunnelling microscopy and other microscopy studies of surface dynamics (including order-disorder transitions, phase transitions, self-assembly, diffusion and tribology)
• Theoretical and computational work that addresses the interpretation of dynamics measurements (including atom and neutron scattering, electron-hole pair creation and energy dissipation, vibrational energy dissipation, quantum dynamics on surfaces)
Keywords: Surface Dynamics, Surface Diffusion, Friction, Surface Scattering, Energy Dissipation, Nanostructures, Quantum Materials, 2D Materials
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