Department of physical electronics | IOP
Department of physical electronics
Department of physical electronics | IOP
Head of Department

Correspoding member of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine
Alexander Marchenko


The Department of Physical Electronics (DPE) was founded in 1938. The former heads od the department: Corresponding Member of NAS of Ukraine Naum Davidovich Morgulis (1936 - 1962), Corresponding Member of NAS of Ukraine Petro Grygorovych Borzyak (1962 - 1981), Academician of NAS of Ukraine Anton Grygorovych Naumovets (1981 - 2013)

  • Atomic and electronic structure of surfaces;
  • Phase transitions in adsorbed layers and their manifestations in surface properties;
  • Surface diffusion of adsorbates;
  • Electron and light emission from dispersed (island) thin films and properties of nanoparticles; nanoelectronics;
  • Field emission from metals (semiconductors) covered with dielectric films;
  • Structure and properties of thin organic films, molecular electronics nanotribology.

Basic directions of scientific activity: physical electronics (work function, electron and photon emission, nano- and molecular electronics, nanoisland metal films), surface science (atomic and electronic structure of surfaces, phase transitions, surface diffusion, metallic and organic highly ordered adsorbed layers, surface modification), tribology, biological objects on surfaces, computer simulation of equilibrated surface structures, adsorption of gases and catalytic reactions on the surfaces.

Main facilities and experimental methods: atomic-force microscopy, scanning tunneling microscopy, low – energy electron diffraction, contact angle measurements, photoelectron spectroscopy, electron microscopy, nanotribological measurements.

  • Discovery of an effective way of direct heat conversion into electricity using cesium-filled thermionic diodes (1949).
  • Development of a theory of field emission from electron and hole semiconductors (1947–1968).
  • Discovery of the drift of adsorbed particles in inhomogeneous electric fields dependent on the field sign, polarity of adsorption bond and the surface concentration of adsorbed particles (1963–1971).
  • Investigation of size effects in the electronic properties of small particles of solids (1952–1986, State Prize of the Ukrainian SSR – 1986).
  • Discovery and investigation of the phenomenon of electron and photon emission from island metal films under passing an electric current through them or under infrared irradiation (1963-till present).
  • The first observation the an orientational phase transition in adsorbed layers (1970).
  • Invention and implementation of the field desorption ion microscope (1960s).
  • Experimental evidence for long-range lateral interaction between adsorbed particles via the substrate (1973–1976).
  • First observation of periodic work-function variations in the layer-bylayer growth of thin films (1987).
  • Introduction of low-work function substrates into scanning tunneling microscopy for observation of overlayers with low tunneling transparency (1998).

STM-image of monolayer of n-alkane C46H94 on highly oriented pyrolytic graphite surface.
Image size of 6*6 nm2

AFM image of doxorubicin layer deposited from normal saline solution on mica substrate.
Image size of 10*10 μm2

  • Discovery of electron-stimulated mobility of adsorbed atoms and investigation of its physical mechanisms (1975–1983, State Prize of Ukraine 2008).
  • Investigation of the electronic structure of silicon carbide by photoelectron spectroscopy (State Prize of Ukraine – 1993).
  • Experimental proof of the existence of long-range lateral interactions between adsorbed particles. Investigation of manifestations of surface phase transitions in the physical and chemical properties of surfaces (1970–1984, State Prize of the USSR – 1988).
  • Observation and investigation of effects of surface phase transitions on the surface diffusion (State Prize of Ukraine, 1997).
  • Discovery of low-macroscopic-field electron emission, stable in a technical vacuum, from piezoelectric thin films (1997–2003).
  • Atomic-scale theoretical studies of friction and lubrication (since 1995).
  • Self-organization of organosilanes on atomically-flat surfaces (2009)
  • Dimerization of molecules in organic monolayers (2011).
  • Effect of switching in self-assembled organic monolayers (2012).
  • Realization of C60 fullerene solubility in physiological aqueous solutions (2014).
  • Low-temperature LEED studies of electropositive metal films on metals, which resulted in the discovery of long-period structures in adsorbed layers. (A.G.Naumovets, A.G.Fedorus).
  • Experimental evidence for long-range lateral interaction of adsorbed particles via the substrate (V.K.Medvedev, A.G.Naumovets, A.G.Fedorus).
  • First observation of orientational phase transition in adsorbed layers (A.G.Naumovets, A.G.Fedorus).
  • Evidence for existence of the first-order phase transitions in adsorbed layers with a repulsive lateral interaction (A.G.Naumovets, A.G.Fedorus).
  • Observation of long-period chain structures of adatoms on anisotropic surfaces (V.K.Medvedev, A.G.Naumovets, T.P.Smereka, A.I.Yakivchuk, I.N.Yakovkin).
  • Development of a technique for investigation of surface diffusion of adsorbates using local work function measurements with high sensitivity and spatial resolution – scanning contact-potential microscopy (Yu.S.Vedula).
  • First observation of periodic work-function variations in the layer-by-layer growth of thin films (Yu.S.Vedula, V.V.Poplavsky).
  • Discovery of correlations between phase transitions in adsorbed layers and the work function, heat of adsorption, surface diffusion parameters (A.G.Naumovets, A.G.Fedorus, V.K.Medvedev, Yu.S.Vedula, A.T.Loburets, V.V.Poplavsky).
  • First observation of electron-stimulated mobility of adsorbed atoms and elucidation of its mechanisms (A.G.Naumovets, A.G.Fedorus, V.V.Gonchar, O.V.Kanash, E.V.Klimenko, E.M.Zasimovich, I.N.Zasimovich).
  • Experimental and theoretical substantiation of the soliton mechanism of surface diffusion (A.G.Naumovets, Yu.S.Vedula, I.F.Lyuksyutov, V.L.Pokrovsky).
  • Discovery of the drift of adsorbed particles in a nonuniform electric field created near a surface and investigation of its regularities (V.M.Gavrilyuk, A.G.Naumovets, E.V.Klimenko).
  • Invention and implementation of the field desorption ion microscope (V.M.Gavrilyuk, V.K.Medvedev).
  • Detection of the growth in the diffusion rate of adatoms after reconstruction of semiconductor surfaces (P.G.Borziak, A.A.Dadykin).
  • Theoretical investigations of phase transitions in adsorbed layers (I.F.Lyuksyutov).
  • Elaboration of a generalized Frenkel-Kontorova model and investigation of energy exchange between adsorbed particles and substrate during surface diffusion (O.M.Braun, I.I.Zelenskaya).
  • Investigations of nonmetal-metal transitions in adsorbed layers (I.N.Yakovkin, G.A.Katrich).
  • Observation of plasmon-mediated photoemission from adsorbed layers (G.A.Katrich, V.V.Klimov).
  • Investigation of the evolution of electronic structure of small metal particles with increasing size (G.A.Katrich, V.S.Samoilov).
  • Examination of the electronic structure of silicon carbide by photoelectron spectroscopy (G.A.Katrich, L.S.Miroshnichenko, V.S.Samoilov, D.T.Tarashchenko).
  • Introduction of low-work function substrates into scanning tunneling microscopy for observation of overlayers with low tunneling transparency (A.A.Marchenko, A.G.Naumovets, V.V.Cherepanov, D.T.Tarashchenko).
  • Demonstration of advantages of secondary ion mass spectrometry using negative ions (instead of positive ions) for quantitative elemental analysis of compounds (V.F.Bibik, A.G.Naumovets).
  • Formulation of physical basis of inverse photoelectron spectroscopy (P.G.Borziak, Yu.A.Kulyupin).
  • Investigation of operative mechanisms of liquid-metal ion sources by measuring the spectra of optical radiation from them as well as the ion energy and angle distributions (A.F.Yatsenko, V.K.Medvedev, V.I.Chornyi, V.S.Kulik, G.G.Kulishova, L.N.Starovoitova).
  • Investigation of physico-chemical processes in oxide and other electrochromophores (V.I.Styopkin, I.V.Shiyanovskaya, V.B.Nechytaylo, Z.A.Tkachenko).
  • Atomic-scale theoretical studies of friction and lubrication – nanotribology (O.M. Braun).
  • Detection of low-field electron emission from piezoelectric thin films, stable in technical vacuum (A.A.Dadykin, A.G.Naumovets).
  • The first observation of two-dimensional glasses obtained by annealing of submonolayers and formation of surface alloys (A.G.Fedorus, A.G.Naumovets, V.F. Koval).
  • Revealing the effects of resonant tunneling in the field emission from quantum dots (A.A.Dadykin, Yu.N.Kozyrev, A.G.Naumovets).
  • P.G.Borziak, Yu.A.Kulyupin "Elektronnyye Processy v Ostrovkovykh Metallicheskikh Plenkakh" ("Electronic Processes in Island Metal Films"), in Russian, Naukova Dumka, Kiev, 1980.
  • I.F.Lyuksyutov, A.G.Naumovets, V.L.Pokrovsky "Two-dimensional crystals", Academic Press, Boston, 1992 (Russian edition: "Dvumernyye kristally", Naukova Dumka, Kiev, 1988).
  • S.A.Nepijko "Fizicheskiye Svoistva Malykh Metallicheskikh Chastits" ("Physical Properties of Small Metal Particles"), in Russian, Naukova Dumka, Kiev, 1985.
  • Naumovets A.G., Vedula Yu.S. Surface diffusion of adsorbates. – Surface Sci. Reports. - 1985, v.4, N7/8, p.365-434.
  • A.G.Naumovets, Two-dimensional phase transitions in alkali - metal adlayers. - In: The Chemical Physics of Solid Surface, v.7, ed. by D.A.King and D.P.Woodruff, Elsevier, Amsterdam, 1994, p.163-213.
  • A.G.Naumovets. Adsorption on metals: a look from the not-too-far East. – Surface Sci. - 1994, vol. 299/300, p.706-721.
  • A.G.Fedorus, E.V.Klimenko, A.G.Naumovets, E.M.Zasimovich, I.N.Zasimovich. Electron-stimulated mobility of adsorbed particles. – Nucl. Instr. Meth. B. - 1995, v.101, No. 1/2, p.207-215.
  • A.A. Marchenko, V.V. Cherepanov, D.T. Tarashchenko, Z.I. Kazantseva, A.G.Naumovets, A low work function substrate for STM studies of objects with poor tunneling transparency: Lanthanum hexaboride (100).– Surface Science.- 1998, v. 416, pp. 460-465.
  • A.Ye. Lushkin, V.B. Nazarenko, K.N. Pilipchak, V.F. Shnyukov, A.G.Naumovets, The impact of annealing and evaporation of LiNbO3 crystals on their surface composition.– J.Phys. D: Applied Physics.- 1999, v. 32, pp. 9-15.
  • R.D.Fedorovich. A.G.Naumovets., P.M.Tomchuk. Electron and light emission from island metal films and generation of hot electrons in nanoparticles. – Physics Reports - 2000, v.328, pp.73-179.
  • Fedorus A., Koval V., Naumovets A., Pfnur H. Metastable structures of Dy layers adsorbed on Mo(112) and their transformations.-European Physical Journal.- 2001, vol. 24, p.395-403.
  • Fedorus A., Koval V., Naumovets A., Pfnur H. Metastable structures of Dy layers adsorbed on Mo(112) and their transformations.–European Phys. J. - 2001, vol. 24, pp. 395-403.
  • Loburets A.T., Senenko N.B.,Vedula Yu.S., Naumovets A.G. Surface heterodiffusion in adsorbed and coadsorbed overlayers of Li, Sr and Cu on the W and Mo (112) surfaces.- In: "Collective Diffusion on Surfaces: Correlation Effects and Adatom Interactions ", ed. by M.C. Tringides and Z. Chvoj (Kluwer, Dordrecht, 2001) p. 97-106.
  • Braun O.M., Peyrard M., Friction in a solid lubricant film. – Phys Rev. E, 2001, v. 63, pp.046110-046128.
  • Naumovets A.G., Zhang Zh. Fidgety particles on surfaces: How do they jump, walk, group, and settle in virgin areas?– Surf. Sci. -2002, vol. 500, p. 414- 436.
  • Dadykin A.A., Naumovets A.G. Kozyrev Yu.N., Rubezhanska M.Y., Lytvyn P.M., Litvin Yu.M. Field and photo-field electron emission from self-assembled Ge-Si nanostructures with quantum dots. – Prog. Surf. Sci. – 2003, vol. 74, pp. 305-318.
  • Loburets A.T., Senenko N.B.,Vedula Yu.S., Naumovets A.G. Experimental study of surface diffusion in metal overlayers on anisotropic metal surfaces.- In: "Atomistic Aspects of Epitaxial Growth", ed. by M. Kotrla, N.I. Papanicolaou, D.D. Vvedensky, L.T. Wille (Kluwer, Dordrecht, 2002) pp. 1-18.
  • Dadykin A.A., Naumovets A.G. Low-macroscopic-field electron emission from piezoelectric thin films and crystals.– Materials Science and Engineering A.- 2003, v.353, pp. 12-21.
  • Braun O.M., Kivshar Yu.S. The Frenkel-Kontorova Model:Concepts, Models, and Applications. – 2004, Springer, Berlin. – 472 p.p.
  • Yakovkin I.N. Atomic wires, in: Encyclopedia of Nanoscience and Nanotechnology, Ed. by H.S. Nalwa, Amer. Sci. Publishers, 2004, vol.1, pp. 169-190.
  • Naumovets A.G. Collective Surface Diffusion: an experimentalists view. – Physica A. - 2005, vol. 375, pp. 189-215.
  • Braun O.M., Naumovets A.G. Nanotribology: microscopic mechanisms of friction. – Surf. Sci. Reports - 2006, vol. 60, pp. 79-158.
  • Nikitin A.G., Spichak S.V., Vedula Yu.S., Naumovets A.G. – J. Phys. D: Appl. Phys. - 2009, vol. 42, pp. 055301 (1-12).

  • Senior Black V.I. and Senior Y.S. Vedula
    by mass spectrometric measurements.

  • E.V. Klimenko and Zosimovich I.M.
    Received a new Auger spectra.

  • Glassblower Dmitrov I.P. at work.

  • Turner Zhabrovets L.I. by machine.

  • Academician A.G. Naumovets and O.A. Marchenko
    discuss self-organization of organic films.

  • Academician A.G. Naumovets and Yu.S. Vedula.
    Reveals new secrets surface diffusion.

  • Academician A.G. Naumovets and pr.n.s. Fedorus O.H.
    Structure of surfaces - an important issue.

  • Pr.n.s. Fedorovich R.D. at High settings.

  • Collective photo of department