Out-of-equilibrium catalysis of chemical reactions by electronic tunnel currents

摘要: We present an escape rate theory for current-induced chemical reactions. use Keldysh nonequilibrium Green's functions to derive a Langevin equation the reaction coordinate. Due out of equilibrium electronic degrees freedom, friction, noise, and effective temperature in depend locally on As example, we consider dissociation diatomic molecules induced by current from scanning tunnelling microscope tip. In resonant regime, molecular involves two processes which are intricately interconnected: modification potential energy barrier heating molecule. The decrease (i.e., catalytic reduction barrier) accompanied appearance effective, reaction-coordinate-dependent is alternative mechanism reactions, distinctly different usual paradigm pumping vibrational freedom.