Data scattering in scanning tunneling spectroscopy.

We investigated the scattering of current-voltage data obtained with scanning tunneling spectroscopy (STS) at room temperature at a solid-liquid interface on highly oriented pyrolytic graphite (HOPG) and in ultrahigh vacuum on HOPG and Au(111). For both experimental conditions, the data scattering can be described by a lognormal function for a moderate number of subsequent measurements. The lognormal distribution of the current can be explained by a normal distribution of the tip-surface distance. We give a simple empirical rule for STS data sorting.

Internal structure of nanoporous TiO2/polyion thin films prepared by layer-by-layer deposition.

The internal structure of porous TiO2 films prepared by electrostatic layer-by-layer deposition was investigated. The films were prepared by alternate dipping of solid substrates into dispersions of TiO2 nanoparticles and polycations, polyanions, or pure buffer solution, respectively. The surface charge of the amphoteric TiO2 particles was controlled by the pH of the aqueous dispersions. The morphology of the film surface was investigated by means of scanning electron microscopy. It was found that the surface roughness strongly depends on the polymeric material used for the deposition process but is independent of the ionic strength of the solution or the molecular weight of the polyions. The samples with rough surfaces feature strong light scattering. The porosity and internal structure of the TiO2/polyelectrolyte films were investigated by adsorption/desorption of dye molecules. A crude estimate yields an internal surface that is up to 160 times the plane surface of the substrate for a film thickness of 1 microm. The composition of the films was investigated by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). Detection of the XPS signal after each deposition step of the first three dipping cycles shows a significant increase of the relative surface coverage of Ti after the TiO2 deposition step and of PSS after the PSS deposition step. For later dipping cycles, such an increase was also detectable but less prominent.

Theory of the absorption and circular dichroism spectra of helical molecular aggregates.

A theory of the electronic circular dichroism (CD) and optical rotatory dispersion (ORD) of infinite aggregates exhibiting cylindrical symmetry is presented in which, to the authors' knowledge, for the first time vibrational structure is included explicitly. It is shown that, with the coherent exciton scattering approximation in the Green function approach, the detailed vibrational structure of the aggregate absorption. CD and ORD bands can be calculated from a knowledge of the electronic coupling and the monomer absorption line shape alone. Detailed model calculations for a single helix are made and the results are used to expose the origin of different spectral features. A good reproduction of experimental J-aggregate spectra is obtained, using the same electronic interaction to fit both absorption and CD spectral line shapes. The theory allows some prediction of aggregate geometry to be made, but it is shown that an unambiguous geometrical assignment can only be made where experimental spectra for light of different propagation directions with respect to the cylinder axis are available.