Chemical reactions at surfaces play a central role in many processes, including catalysis and materials synthesis. It is well known that the outcome of these reactions is influenced by the translational, vibrational and rotational motions of atoms and molecules. Now, a study shows that electron spin, another fundamental property of matter, also influences how chemical reactions at surfaces unfold.
A study published in Nature Communications has revealed that electron spin, a fundamental property of matter, can influence chemical reactions at surfaces. Researchers from the Institute of Industrial Science, The University of Tokyo, and other collaborating institutions demonstrated that controlling the spin orientation of hydrogen atoms on a magnetic nickel surface can significantly impact hydrogen adsorption and abstraction reactions.
By firing a spin-polarized beam of hydrogen atoms at a ferromagnetic nickel surface and applying an external magnetic field, the team observed that the orientation of hydrogen spins (parallel or perpendicular to the surface) affected the probability of these reactions. The research shows that electron spin is an additional degree of freedom that can govern the behavior of atoms during surface reactions, and external magnetic fields could potentially be used to regulate chemical reaction rates.
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