A research group at the University of Tokyo has succeeded in measuring the electronegativity of individual atoms on a solid surface using an atomic force microscope (AFM).Until now, one electronegativity value was set for each element, but this time, even for the same element, the electronegativity changes depending on the surrounding chemical environment (which element and how it is bonded). Demonstrated to do.
Electronegativity is a measure of the strength with which an atom attracts an electron as it forms a chemical bond.AFM has made it possible to quantify this value, which could only be measured on a population average, for individual atoms. AFM is a device that can observe the surface shape by bringing a sharp needle closer to the observation target and measuring the chemical bond force and bond energy between the atom at the tip of the needle and the atom of the sample.In this study, AFM succeeded in evaluating the electronegativity of each element in the state of a single atom for the first time in the world.
The method of this study can measure the electronegativity of elements placed in various chemical environments.It may be applied to the evaluation of the chemical activity of each atom or reaction molecule on the surface of the catalyst, and the element identification of the molecule or atom of the product produced by the reaction.It is expected to bring further development to atomic-scale chemistry and materials science in the future.
Paper information: [Nature Communications] Electronegativity determination of individual surface atoms by atomic force microscopy
