Rust Never Sleeps: Electron Hopping
Source: LBNL TABL, Dan Hawkes
Iron oxide (rust) is a poor electrical conductor, but electrons in iron oxide can use thermal energy to hop from one iron atom to another. A Berkeley Lab experiment has now revealed exactly what happens to electrons after being transferred to an iron oxide particle. (Image courtesy of Benjamin Gilbert, Berkeley Lab)
For more information, go to the LBNL News Center
Citation: Katz, J.E., X. Zhang, K. Attenkofer, K.W. Chapman, C. Frandsen, P. Zarzycki, K.M. Rosso, R.W. Falcone, G.A. Waychunas, and B. Gilbert (2012), Electron small polarons and their mobility in iron (oxyhydr)oxide nanoparticles. Science (in press).