Observation Examples of Metals

The changes that occur in a nickel surface when it is caused to react with a gas were continuously observed in real time. The image on the left shows the surface in a clean state after reduction. The image on the right shows the change in shape accompanying the generation of carbonyl complex that occurs when carbon monoxide is blown onto the surface. (A gas spray unit and STM head were used.)
(Data provided by the National Institute of Materials and Chemical Research)