Surface structure evolution during Sb adsorption on Si(1 1 1)–In(4×1) reconstruction

The Sb adsorption process on the Si(1 1 1)–In(4×1) surface phase was studied in the temperature range 200–400 °C. The formation of a Si(1 1 1)–InSb (2×2) structure was observed between 0.5 and 0.7 ML of Sb. This reconstruction decomposes when the Sb coverage approaches 1 ML and Sb atoms rearrange to and (2×1) reconstructions; released In atoms agglomerate into islands of irregular shapes. During the phase transition process from InSb(2×2) to Sb (θ_Sb>0.7 ML), we observed the formation of a metastable (4×2) structure. Possible atomic arrangements of the InSb(2×2) and metastable (4×2) phases were discussed.     

Formation of and phase transitions in electrodeposited tellurium atomic layers on Au(1 1 1)

Detailed studies of the structures formed by the electrodeposition of atomic layers of Te on Au(1 1 1) surfaces from aqueous solutions were performed using in situ scanning tunneling microscopy (STM), as well as by UHV-EC techniques such as low energy electron diffraction and Auger electron spectroscopy. There are two features in the voltammetry that may be considered underpotential deposition (UPD). However, from the voltammetry, it is clear that the deposition process is kinetically slow, and from this study it appears that several atomic layer structures are actually formed at overpotentials. Prior to deposition, a surface excess of a tellurium oxide species coats the surface. This layer is then converted to a Au(1 1 1)(√3×√3)R30°–Te structure with an array of domain walls, at 1/3 ML. The initial structure appears to have a symmetric array of walls, resulting in a (13×13) periodicity, which then converts to a less symmetric structure where the domain walls form rhombi, with a larger periodicity. During the second UPD feature, the coverage increases, forming a (√7×√13) unit cell at 0.36 ML and then a (3×3) at 0.44 ML. Commensurate with the formation of these higher coverage structures, a roughening transition takes place, where the surface becomes pitted, resulting in about 40% of the surface being covered with single atom deep pits. This process appears to be related to the pits formed in the surfaces of self-assembled monolayers (SAM) of thiols on Au surfaces, and layers of Se and S on Au surfaces. Several theories have been suggested to account for these pits. The model that appears to best explain the pits is based on shrinking of the size of the underlying Au atoms, reconstructing the underlying Au. There also appears to be a high coverage structure, near 0.9 ML, that forms at potentials near where the (3×3) forms, but only by holding the potential for an extended period of time. Subsequent dissolution of this high coverage structure produces domains of disordered Te atoms, which gradually decrease in coverage until the (3×3) is again formed at 0.44 ML.     

Hydrogen adsorption on Mo1−xRex(110) (x=0–0.25) surfaces

The effects of adsorbed H on the Mo_1−xRe_x(110), x=0, 0.05, 0.15, and 0.25, surfaces have been investigated using low-energy electron diffraction (LEED) and high-resolution electron energy loss spectroscopy (HREELS). For the x=0.15 alloy only, a c(2×2) LEED pattern is observed at a coverage Θ0.25 ML. A (2×2) pattern is observed for H coverages around Θ0.5 ML from surfaces with x=0, 0.05, and 0.15. Both c(2×2) and (2×2) patterns are attributed to reconstruction of the substrate. At higher coverages, a (1×1) pattern is observed. For the alloy surface with x=0.25, only a (1×1) pattern is obtained for all H coverages. Two H vibrations are observed in HREELS spectra for all Re concentrations, which shift to higher energies at intermediate coverages. Both peaks exhibit an isotopic shift, confirming their assignment to hydrogen. For Re concentrations of x=0.15 and higher, a third HREELS peak appears at 50 meV as H (D) coverage approaches saturation. This peak does not shift in energy with isotopic substitution, yet cannot be explained by contamination. The intrinsic width of the loss peaks depends on the Re concentration in the surface region and becomes broader with increasing x. This broadening can be attributed to surface inhomogeneity, but may also reflect increased delocalization of the adsorbed hydrogen atom.     

Adsorption of oxygen and carbon dioxide on cesium-reconstructed Ag(1 1 0) surface

The adsorption of oxygen and carbon dioxide on cesium-reconstructed Ag(1 1 0) surface has been studied with scanning tunneling microscopy (STM) and temperature programmed desorption (TPD). At 0.1 ML Cs coverage the whole surface exhibits a mixture of (1 × 2) and (1 × 3) reconstructed structures, indicating that Cs atoms exert a cooperative effect on the surface structures. Real-time STM observation shows that silver atoms on the Cs-covered surface are highly mobile on the nanometer scale at 300 K. The Cs-reconstructed Ag(1 1 0) surface alters the structure formed by dissociative adsorption of oxygen from p(2 × 1) or c(6 × 2) to a p(3 × 5) structure which incorporates 1/3 ML Ag atoms, resulting in the formation of nanometer-sized (10–20 nm) islands. The Cs-induced reconstruction facilitates the adsorption of CO₂, which does not adsorb on unreconstructed, clean Ag(1 1 0). CO₂ adsorption leads to the formation of locally ordered (2 × 1) structures and linear (2 × 2) structures distributed inhomogeneously on the surface. Adsorbed CO₂ desorbs from the Cs-covered surface without accompanied O₂ desorption, ruling out carbonate as an intermediate. As a possible alternative, an oxalate-type surface complex [OOC–COO] is suggested, supported by the occurrence of extensive isotope exchange between oxygen atoms among CO₂(a). Direct interaction between CO₂ and Cs may become significant at higher Cs coverage (>0.3 ML).     

The adsorption of water on Ni(110): Monolayer, bilayer and related phenomena

The adsorption of water of Ni(110) has been studied by nuclear reaction analysis (NRA), thermal desorption spectroscopy (TDS), LEED and work function measurements (Δφ). The major findings of this study are: (1) the saturation coverage of the first chemisorbed layer of water is slightly less than 0.5 water molecules per surface Ni atom or 0.5 ML (1 ML = 1 MONOLAYER = 1.14 × 10¹⁵ molecules cm⁻²) and the layer exhibits a c(2 × 2) LEED pattern; (2) this water desorbs in three separate desorption states; (3) the slightly less strongly bound, second layer of water can be distinguished from subsequent “ice” layers by a discrete work function change. These results are discussed in terms of a recently published model of Benndorf and Madey [C. Benndorf and T.E. Madey, Surf. Sci. 194 (1988) 63].     

Adsorption of hydrogen and carbon monoxide on Rh(1 1 1)/V surface alloys

A detailed study of the interaction of hydrogen and carbon monoxide with two different Rh(1 1 1)/V surface alloys (1/3 monolayer of V in the second atomic layer or 1/3 monolayer of V in form of islands on the surface) is presented in comparison to the clean Rh(1 1 1) surface. For hydrogen a decrease in the sticking coefficient is found for both alloy surfaces. The sticking coefficient of H₂ as a function of the translational energy is similar to the Rh(1 1 1) surface, showing a direct activated adsorption mechanism. For low translational energies hydrogen adsorption is dominated by dynamical steering on Rh(1 1 1) and by a precursor mechanism on the Rh(1 1 1)/V subsurface alloy. The H₂ TPD desorption peaks are shifted to lower temperatures on the alloy surfaces, caused by the downshift of the metal d-band due to V alloying. On all three surfaces the saturation coverage of hydrogen was measured, giving 1.2, 1.0 and 0.8 monolayer for Rh(1 1 1), the Rh(1 1 1)/V subsurface alloy and for the Rh(1 1 1)/V islands, respectively. For CO the sticking coefficients and the saturation coverages are basically the same on the Rh(1 1 1) and the alloy surfaces. There is an extrinsic precursor on the ordered CO (√3×√3) phase on the Rh(1 1 1) surface, but there is no evidence for such a precursor on the Rh(1 1 1)/V subsurface alloy. On the Rh(1 1 1)/V islands surface, the extrinsic precursor exists on the Rh(1 1 1) surface between the V islands. Apparently this precursor is only stable on the ordered CO layer on Rh(1 1 1).     

Adsorption and reaction of oxygen and deuterium on a Pd(110) surface, studied by Δφ and TDS

The co-adsorption of oxygen and deuterium at 100 K on a Pd(110) surface has been studied by measurements of the change in work function (Δφ) and by thermal desorption spectroscopy (TDS). When the surface with co-adsorbed species is heated, the adsorbates O and D react to form D₂O which desorbs from the surface at T > 200 K. The D₂O desorption peaks shift continuously to lower temperatures as the surface D coverage (θ_D) increases. The maximum production of D₂O is estimated to be 0.26 ML (1 ML = 9.5 × 10¹⁴ atoms cm⁻²), resulting from reaction in a layer containing 0.65 ML D and 0.3 ML O. The maximum work function increase caused by adsorption of D to saturation onto oxygen precovered Pd(110) decreases almost linearly with Δφ_O of the oxygen precovered surface. On a surface with pre-adsorbed D however, the maximum Δφ increase contributed by oxygen adsorption decreases abruptly at Δφ_D > 200 mV. This sharp change occurs at θ_D > 1 ML and is believed to be associated with the development of the reconstructed (1 × 2) phase of D/Pd(110).     

STM investigations of CO coadsorption with O and with S on Ni(110)

The interaction between CO coadsorbed with oxygen and sulfur on Ni (110) has been studied with room temperature STM and LEED. In the case of CO/O/Ni(110)−(θ_o0.3 ML), it is found that due to a large local repulsion between the differing species, the coadsorbed species phase separate into large domains of O−(3 × 1) and CO−p2mg(2 × 1) structure. Similarly in the case of CO/S/Ni(110)−(θ_s0.4 ML), at low local coverages of coadsorbed CO, island segregation of CO and S-c(2 × 2) is observed. At locally saturated CO coverage, the S-c(2 × 2) structure transforms into long -S-S- chains running predominantly along the [ ] direction and separated by a local p2mg(2 × 1)-CO structure; this transformation is attributed to the large CO-CO repulsion in the condensed overlayer structure.     

Interaction of oxygen with the Pt(1 1 1) surface in wide conditions range. A DFT-based thermodynamical simulation

We present the results of ab initio calculations of oxygen atomic adsorption in a wide range of coverage on Pt(1 1 1). At θ = 0.25 ML, the O adsorption at fcc hollow site is clearly favoured over the hcp site. At θ = 0.5 ML, the O adsorption energy decreases but the same site is favoured. When experimental or theoretical previously reported data are available, the calculated adsorption energies and site preferences are in good agreement. Among the various configurations and coverages investigated in the present work, no adsorption is stable beyond θ = 0.5 ML, except by occupation of a subsurface tetrahedral site. In that case, a total O coverage of 0.75 ML could be achieved, which is only slightly less stable than the θ = 0.5 ML configuration.

The use of thermodynamics permitted to explore the temperature–pressure stability domain corresponding to 0.25 ML, 0.5 ML and 0.75 ML. From this, we conclude that subsurface O species could be stable at temperatures lower than 700 K, with O₂ pressures of 1 bar or less.     

铝和银在铱（111）宽范围吸附的稳定性、原子构型及电子特性研究

利用第一性原理密度泛函理论研究了铝和银在铱的111面的宽范围吸附特性。基于密度泛函理论计算了覆盖度在0.11ML到2.00ML的结构稳定性、原子构型及平均结合能。对于铝原子在铱111面的吸附,最稳定的结构是铝原子覆盖度为0.5ML位于密堆六方空位（hcp-hollow）,相应的结合能为-4.68eV;对于亚层铝原子的吸附,最稳定结构是铝原子覆盖度为1.00ML时位于octahedral位置,相应的结合能为-5.28eV。对于覆盖度为2.00ML的满覆盖度混合结构的表层及亚层吸附,最稳定结构是Al位于六方密堆及八方密堆位置,相应的结合能为-4.70eV。这意味着当铝原子以满覆盖度吸附在铱的111面上时,趋向于在铱的111面的亚层形成化学键,而非吸附于表层。相比于铝吸附在铱111面,银的吸附特性呈现出很大的不同,面心位置更为稳定,在覆盖度为0.25ML时其结合能为3.89eV,略微高出密堆六方位置处3.88eV的结合能。     

铝和银在铱（111）宽范围吸附的稳定性、原子构型及电子特性研究

利用第一性原理密度泛函理论研究了铝和银在铱的111面的宽范围吸附特性。基于密度泛函理论计算了覆盖度在0.11ML到2.00ML的结构稳定性、原子构型及平均结合能。对于铝原子在铱111面的吸附,最稳定的结构是铝原子覆盖度为0.5ML位于密堆六方空位（hcp-hollow）,相应的结合能为-4.68eV;对于亚层铝原子的吸附,最稳定结构是铝原子覆盖度为1.00ML时位于octahedral位置,相应的结合能为-5.28eV。对于覆盖度为2.00ML的满覆盖度混合结构的表层及亚层吸附,最稳定结构是Al位于六方密堆及八方密堆位置,相应的结合能为-4.70eV。这意味着当铝原子以满覆盖度吸附在铱的111面上时,趋向于在铱的111面的亚层形成化学键,而非吸附于表层。相比于铝吸附在铱111面,银的吸附特性呈现出很大的不同,面心位置更为稳定,在覆盖度为0.25ML时其结合能为3.89eV,略微高出密堆六方位置处3.88eV的结合能。     

Coadsorption of water and CO molecules on Ru(0 0 1) at high CO coverages: comparisons with a Ru(0 0 1) electrode surface

The coadsorption of carbon monoxide (CO) and water molecules on a Ru(0 0 1) surface has been studied by infrared spectroscopy, LEED and STM. At high CO coverage phases, a 2×2-(2CO+D₂O) structure was observed on both UHV and electrode surfaces. Electrode potential dependent structures from CO and water adlayers on an electrode surface were reproduced on a UHV surface by controlling molecular orientations of the first layer and second over-layer water molecules. At lower CO coverages, a CO band center showed coverage dependent shift down to 1444 cm⁻¹ due to an electron transfer from a lone pair of a water molecule to CO 2π^*.     

Hydrogen-induced missing-row reconstructions of Pd(110) studied by scanning tunneling microscopy

The effect of hydrogen adsorption on the Pd(110) surface structure at room temperature has been studied by scanning tunneling microscopy. Depending on the partial pressure of hydrogen two different reconstructions of Pd(110) have been observed: a (1 × 3) phase at hydrogen pressures in the 10⁻⁹ mbar range and an additional (1 × 2) phase at p_H2 ≥ 5 × 10⁻⁸ mbar. Both reconstructions are found to be of the missing-row type. The evolution of the surface reconstructions has been followed in situ.     

Relaxation of the (1 1 1) surface of δ-Pu and effects on atomic adsorption: An ab initio study

The computational formalism of the full-potential all-electron linearized augmented plane wave plus local orbitals (FP-LAPW+lo) method has been employed to study the relaxation of the δ-Pu(1 1 1) surface and the consequent effects for atomic adsorption of C, N, and O atoms on this surface. The underlying theoretical principle is the generalized gradient approximation to density functional theory (GGA-DFT) and the surface was modeled by a five-layer slab with a (2×2) surface unit cell. Upon relaxation of the slab, the interlayer separation between the surface and the subsurface layers expanded by 7.1% with respect to the bulk interlayer separation, while the separation between the subsurface and central layers expanded by 0.4%. To study adsorption on the surface, the adatoms were allowed to approach the surface at four high symmetry adsorption sites, namely, the top, bridge, hollow FCC, and hollow HCP sites, the adlayer structure corresponding to a coverage of 0.25 of a monolayer in all cases. The hollow FCC adsorption site was found to be the most stable site for C and N with chemisorption energies of 6.420 and 6.549 eV, respectively, while the hollow HCP adsorption site was found to be the most stable site for O with a chemisorption energy of 7.858 eV. The respective distances of the C, N, and O adatoms from the surface were found to be 1.22, 1.09, and 1.22 Å. The work function and net magnetic moments, respectively, increased and decreased in all cases upon chemisorption compared with the bare δ-Pu(1 1 1) surface. The electronic structure of the interactions between the adsorbates and the substrate is discussed in detail.     

Vanadium oxide nanostructures on Rh(1 1 1): Promotion effect of CO adsorption and oxidation

The adsorption of CO and the reaction of CO with pre-adsorbed oxygen at room temperature has been studied on the (2 × 1)ORh(1 1 1) surface and on vanadium oxideRh(1 1 1) “inverse model catalyst” surfaces using scanning tunnelling microscopy (STM) and core-level photoemission with synchrotron radiation. Two types of structurally well-defined model catalyst V₃O₉Rh(1 1 1) surfaces have been prepared, which consist of large (mean size of 50 nm, type I model catalyst) and small (mean size <15 nm, type II model catalyst) two-dimensional oxide islands and bare Rh areas in between; the latter are covered by chemisorbed oxygen. Adsorption of CO on the oxygen pre-covered (2 × 1)ORh(1 1 1) surface leads to fast CO uptake in on-top sites and to the removal of half (0.25 ML) of the initial oxygen coverage by an oxidation clean-off reaction and as a result to the formation of a coadsorbed (2 × 2)O + CO phase. Further removal of the adsorbed O with CO is kinetically hindered at room temperature. A similar kinetic behaviour has been found also for the CO adsorption and oxidation reaction on the type I “inverse model catalyst” surface. In contrast, on the type II inverse catalyst surface, containing small V-oxide islands, the rate of removal of the chemisorbed oxygen is significantly enhanced. In addition, a reduction of the V-oxide islands at their perimeter by CO has been observed, which is suggested to be the reason for the promotion of the CO oxidation reaction near the metal-oxide phase boundary.     

Adsorption of carbon monoxide on Pt{100} surfaces: dependence of the CO stretching vibrational frequency on surface coverage

We have used the ab initio cluster model approach to study the dependence of the CO stretching frequency on CO surface coverage. We have also investigated the relative importance of the various factors that can affect the position of the CO stretching band as coverage increases. Two effects can change the CO stretching frequency: the adsorbate–adsorbate dipole coupling, which is a purely physical effect, and the changes in the 2π^* CO molecular orbitals, due to the different chemical environment at higher coverages. From our vibrational analysis, we conclude that CO–CO dipole coupling is the main cause of the upward shift of the CO stretching band when the CO coverage is increased. The population of the 2π^* CO molecular orbitals does not change at any coverage within the region considered. We have also estimated the ¹²CO–¹³CO dipole coupling, which previous studies have assumed to be weak. Our results demonstrate that the ¹²CO–¹³CO dipole coupling is indeed weak compared with the ¹²CO–¹²CO dipole coupling. At a CO surface coverage of 0.5 monolayers (ML), we have calculated a band shift of 40 cm⁻¹ to higher frequency. However, we should point out that when one ¹²CO molecule is surrounded by a ¹³CO environment, the ¹²CO stretching band shifts 10 cm⁻¹ upwards. We have also computed the heat of adsorption of CO on Pt{100}-(1×1) as a function of CO coverage. The initial heat of adsorption is calculated to be about 192 kJ mol⁻¹ and then drops to 180 kJ mol⁻¹ at 0.5 ML. These results agree quite well with recent calorimetric measurements. Besides that, we have estimated that the CO–CO interaction energy at 0.5 ML is repulsive and has a value of 5 kJ mol⁻¹.     

Structure and electronic properties of ultrathin Co films on W(1 1 0)

The structure and electronic properties of ultrathin Co films on W(1 1 0) grown by molecular beam epitaxy in UHV were investigated by low energy electron diffraction (LEED) and scanning tunneling microscopy and spectroscopy (STM and STS). For coverages above 0.7 ML the pseudomorphic (ps) monolayer is transformed gradually into close-packed (cp-) monolayer areas, showing up as separated islands that increase in size with coverage until the cp-monolayer is complete. Two different structures of the cp-monolayer were observed by atomically resolved STM, both leading to a 8 × 1 superstructure in the LEED pattern. Higher coverages continue to grow in the Stransky–Krastanov growth mode forming simultaneously double layer islands and triple layer islands in fcc(1 1 1) and hcp(0 0 0 1) stacking. STS reveals tunneling spectra that differ considerably depending on the thickness and on the structure. Two different classes of triple layer islands can be distinguished by a resonant peak at +0.3 eV appearing in only one of the two classes. We attributed this behavior to a different stacking according to a fcc or hcp structure.     

A LEED, TPD and HREELS investigation of NO adsorption on Sn/Pt(111) surface alloys

The adsorption of NO on Pt(111), and the (2 × 2)Sn/Pt(111) and (√3 × √3)R30°Sn/Pt(111) surface alloys has been studied using LEED, TPD and HREELS. NO adsorption produces a (2 × 2) LEED pattern on Pt(111) and a (2√3 × 2√3)R30° LEED pattern on the (2 × 2)Sn/Pt(111) surface. The initial sticking coefficient of NO on the (2 × 2)Sn/Pt(111) surface alloy at 100 K is the same as that on Pt(111), S₀ = 0.9, while the initial sticking coefficient of NO on the (√3 × √3)R30°Sn/Pt(111) surface decreases to 0.6. The presence of Sn in the surface layer of Pt(111) strongly reduces the binding energy of NO in contrast to the minor effect it has on CO. The binding energy of β-state NO is reduced by 8–10 kcal/mol on the Sn/Pt(111) surface alloys compared to Pt(111). HREELS data for saturation NO coverage on both surface alloys show two vibrational frequencies at 285 and 478 cm⁻¹ in the low frequency range and only one N-O stretching frequency at 1698 cm⁻¹. We assign this NO species as atop, bent-bonded NO. At small NO coverage, a species with a loss at 1455 cm⁻¹ was also observed on the (2 × 2)Sn/ Pt(111) surface alloy, similar to that observed on the Pt(111) surface. However, the atop, bent-bonded NO is the only species observed on the (√3 × √3)R30°Sn/Pt(111) surface alloy at any NO coverage studied.     

Sodium adsorption on a Ge(100)-(2 × 1) surface

The adsorption of Na on a Ge(100)-(2 × 1) surface has been studied by means of AES, LEED, EELS, TPD and work-function measurements. In the submonolayer coverage region the coverage dependencies of the desorption activation energy E(Θ) and desorption frequency v(Θ) have been determined using the threshold TPD method. Our experimental data show that after the completion of the first Na layer, 3D crystallites develop on the Na/Ge(100) surface (Stranski-Krastanov growth mode). For Θ > 1 ML, formation, followed by decomposition of a certain Na---Ge surface compound occurs in the temperature range 410–550 K.     

Vibrational spectroscopy of ordered oxygen adiayers on Ni/Cu(001) and Co/Cu(001) thin film systems

We report surface vibrations in c(2 × 2) oxygen adlayers on Ni and Co thin films on a Cu(001) substrate measured at gG by high resolution EELS. For the Ni thin film surface, one phonon peak is measured for varying film thicknesses from 1.3 ML (monolayer) to 6 ML with a constant energy of 221 cm⁻¹. For the Co thin film surface, three loss peaks are found, whose relative intensities change as the film thicknesses are varied. One loss peak at ˜520 cm⁻¹ is tentatively assigned to the Fuchs-Kliewer mode of cobalt oxide (CoO). The other two peaks at 317 and 376 cm⁻¹ are likely related to different bonding sites. Surface phonons on the p(2 × 2) Co thin film (389 cm⁻¹) and a bulk resonance mode (115 cm⁻¹) are also reported.