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Low-Energy Electron Escape from Liquid Interfaces: Charge and Quantum Effects

Loren Ban, Thomas E. Gartmann, Bruce L. Yoder, and R. Signorell
Phys. Rev. Lett. 124, 013402 – Published 10 January 2020
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Abstract

The high surface sensitivity and controlled surface charge state of submicron sized droplets is exploited to study low-energy electron transport through liquid interfaces using photoelectron imaging. Already a few charges on a droplet are found to modify the photoelectron images significantly. For narrow escape barriers, the comparison with an electron scattering model reveals pronounced quantum effects in the form of above-barrier reflections at electron kinetic energies below about 1 eV. The observed susceptibility to the characteristics of the electron escape barrier might provide access to these properties for liquid interfaces, which are generally difficult to investigate.

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  • Received 23 August 2019

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.124.013402

© 2020 American Physical Society

Physics Subject Headings (PhySH)

Atomic, Molecular & Optical

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Catching Electrons as They Escape a Liquid

Published 10 January 2020

A new technique allows accurate measurements of electrons that escape a liquid surface—information that is essential for understanding chemical reactions in water droplets in the atmosphere.

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Authors & Affiliations

Loren Ban, Thomas E. Gartmann, Bruce L. Yoder, and R. Signorell*

  • Department of Chemistry and Applied Biosciences, Laboratory of Physical Chemistry, ETH Zürich, Vladimir-Prelog Weg 2, CH-8093 Zürich, Switzerland

  • *rsignorell@ethz.ch

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Vol. 124, Iss. 1 — 10 January 2020

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