Direct observation of the basic mechanisms of Pd island nucleation on Au(111)

Details Direct observation of the basic mechanisms of Pd island nucleation on Au(111) Direct observation of the basic mechanisms of Pd island nucleation on Au(111)

2008-11-19

arxiv.org/abs/0811.3155v2

PHYSICAL REVIEW B 79, 195402 (2009)

Physics

Condensed Matter

Materials Science

25 pages, 10 figures

Scientific paper

10.1103/PhysRevB.79.195402

The formation mechanisms of evaporated Pd islands on the reconstructed Au(111) $22 /times /sqrt{3}$ herringbone surface have been here studied by Scanning Tunneling Microscopy (STM) at room temperature. Atomically resolved STM images at the very early stages of growth provide a direct observation of the mechanisms involved in preferential Pd islands nucleation at the elbows of the herringbone structure. At low Pd coverage the Au(111) herringbone structure remains substantially unperturbed and isolated Pd atoms settled in hollow sites between Au atoms are found nearby the elbows and the distortions of the reconstructed surface. In the same regions, at extremely low coverage (0.003 ML), substituted Pd atoms in lattice sites of the Au(111) surface are also observed, revealing the occurrence of a place exchange mechanism. Substitution seems to play a fundamental role in the nucleation process, forming aggregation centers for incoming atoms and thus leading to the ordered growth of Pd islands on Au(111). Atomically resolved STM images of Pd islands reveal a close-packed arrangement with lattice parameter close to the interatomic distance between gold atoms in the fcc regions of the Au(111) surface. Distortion of the herringbone structure for Pd coverages higher than 0.25 ML indicates strong interaction between the growing islands and the topmost Au(111) layer.

Affiliated with

Also associated with

No associations

Rating

Direct observation of the basic mechanisms of Pd island nucleation on Au(111) does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this scientific paper.

If you have personal experience with Direct observation of the basic mechanisms of Pd island nucleation on Au(111), we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Direct observation of the basic mechanisms of Pd island nucleation on Au(111) will most certainly appreciate the feedback.

Rate now

Comments { 0 }

Profile ID: LFWR-SCP-O-429451