Low Energy Electron Diffraction of Thin Chromium Films on a Palladium Crystal

The surface-surface interactions between a sample of palladium and a thin film of chromium grown on the surface were studied using Low Energy Electron Diffraction (LEED) and X-Ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy (XPS). The combination of the thin film and the properties of LEED allowed for close study of interaction of the chromium atoms on the surface of the palladium without penetrating into the palladium bulk. The geometric arrangement of the atoms and lattice that the chromium created as it bonded to the palladium was of great interest. The exact arrangement of the atoms as they attempt to fit together can be used to predict the properties of the interactions, along with the differences between thin and thick films of material, leading to new uses of the material