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    On the Promotion of Catalytic Reactions by Surface Acoustic Waves
    (Weinheim : Wiley-VCH, 2020) von Boehn, Bernhard; Foerster, Michael; von Boehn, Moritz; Prat, Jordi; Macià, Ferran; Casals, Blai; Khaliq, Muhammad Waqas; Hernández-Mínguez, Alberto; Aballe, Lucia; Imbihl, Ronald
    Surface acoustic waves (SAW) allow to manipulate surfaces with potential applications in catalysis, sensor and nanotechnology. SAWs were shown to cause a strong increase in catalytic activity and selectivity in many oxidation and decomposition reactions on metallic and oxidic catalysts. However, the promotion mechanism has not been unambiguously identified. Using stroboscopic X-ray photoelectron spectro-microscopy, we were able to evidence a sub-nanosecond work function change during propagation of 500 MHz SAWs on a 9 nm thick platinum film. We quantify the work function change to 455 μeV. Such a small variation rules out that electronic effects due to elastic deformation (strain) play a major role in the SAW-induced promotion of catalysis. In a second set of experiments, SAW-induced intermixing of a five monolayers thick Rh film on top of polycrystalline platinum was demonstrated to be due to enhanced thermal diffusion caused by an increase of the surface temperature by about 75 K when SAWs were excited. Reversible surface structural changes are suggested to be a major cause for catalytic promotion. © 2020 The Authors. Published by Wiley-VCH GmbH
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    New electronic device for driving surface acoustic wave actuators
    (Amsterdam : Elsevier, 2009) Brünig, R.; Mensel, K.; Kunze, R.; Schmidt, H.
    Surface acoustic wave (SAW) actuators are driven by a high frequency signal. The frequency range for an ideal SAW-generation is usually very narrow banded and may shift depending on various environmental conditions. We present a new electronic device which self-aligns to the optimal excitation frequency within a wide range. Any kind of SAW-actuator can be used. The device continuously scans a certain frequency range and characterizes the SAW-component. The ideal excitation frequency is then determined and used to drive the SAW-device. In case of changes like loading conditions or temperature variations the device automatically readjusts to the optimal frequency and prevents possible damage of the device or actuator in case of an error. © 2009.