A NEW ULTRAHIGH-VACUUM SINGLE-CRYSTAL SAMPLE TRANSFER SYSTEM WITH DIRECT TEMPERATURE CONTROL AND MEASUREMENT

We report a new sample transfer system, developed for a combined reflection absorption infrared spectroscopy/low-energy electron diffraction/Auger apparatus, which enables single crystal samples to be transferred under ultrahigh vacuum (UHV) conditions while still retaining the facility for varying and monitoring the sample temperature. The important feature of this design is that direct temperature measurement at the sample is not sacrificed in order to gain sample transferability. This advance will allow single crystal samples to be moved from preparation chambers into reaction chambers where in situ studies may be carried out under catalytically relevant pressure and temperature conditions. Such research is vital in closing the "pressure gap" which exists at present between studies on characterized single crystals under low pressure conditions and those on uncharacterized catalysts under industrially relevant high pressure conditions.