Rare form of silver observed during routine calibration
Monday, December 20, 2010 - 13:01
in Physics & Chemistry
What started out as an ordinary instrument calibration task using silver turned into research gold for scientists at Pacific Northwest National Laboratory. Contradicting nearly 40 years of measurement history, the team observed in vacuum a rare form of silver: Ag(III). Aiming to calibrate an atomic oxygen source, they deposited thin films with varying levels of silver and oxygen, then measured the oxidation range of silver with an X-ray photoelectron spectrometer (XPS). The unexpected XPS signature gave researchers a silver surprise. This research was chosen as the cover of The Journal of Physical Chemistry C for December 16, 2010.