Li+-ion neutralization on metal surfaces and thin films

Li+ ions with energies ranging from 0.3 to 2 keV are scattered from Au(110) and Pd(100) surfaces and from ultrathin Ag film grown on Au(111) in order to study electron transfer phenomena. We find that neutralization occurs quite efficiently and find an anomalous ion energy dependence of the neutral fraction for Au(110) and Pd(100) surfaces previously noted for Au(111). The dependence of the neutral fraction on the azimuthal angle of the Au(110) and Pd(100) surfaces is reported. In the case of Ag monolayer on Au(111), results are similar to the case of the Ag(111) surface. To understand the anomalous ion energy dependence, we present a theoretical study using density functional theory (DFT) and a linearized rate equation approach, which allows us to follow the Li charge state evolution for the (111) surfaces of Ag, Au, and Cu, and for the Ag-covered Au(111) surface.