INVITATION
to a TALK by
Atef Sheekhoon, MSc.
Department of Physics and Astronomy
USC Dornsife, College of Letters, Arts and Sciences
Metal nanoparticles as size-resolved probes of quantum materials and phenomena
Friday, May 30th 2025, 11:15 h
Location: Ernst-Mach Lecture Hall, 2nd floor, Boltzmanngasse 5
Hosted by: Markus Arndt
Abstract:
Nanoparticles offer a powerful platform for probing fundamental questions in surface science and testing theoretical models. In particular, the nanoparticle ionization energy (IE) —analogous to the work function (WF) in bulk materials—is a fundamental property that reflects not only the electronic spectrum but also the structural dynamics. We use high-precision, size- and isotope-resolved photoionization of alkali metal nanoclusters to study the temperature dependence of IE. Our results reveal a distinct shift in the IE(T) curve which is associated with the melting transition, heretofore not resolved in work function measurements. This transition takes place at a point much lower than the bulk melting point. Isotope-resolved data reveal a variation between Li-6 and Li-7, highlighting quantum and lattice dynamics beyond simple models.
