The growth and stability of Fe layers on the Mo(1 1 1) surface

The initial growth and the stability of Fe layers on the Mo(1 1 1) surface was studied with Auger electron spectroscopy, low energy electron diffraction, scanning tunneling microscopy and thermal desorption spectroscopy. At room temperature at least the first two monolayers grow layer-by-layer. The first layer is stable up to about 1200 K. Excess Fe starts to agglomerate at about 400 K and forms with increasing temperature thick flat-top islands which start to sublime at a somewhat below 1200 K. A strong decrease of the adsorption energy with coverage was found in the first monolayer. No {2 1 1} or { 1 1 0} micro-faceting could be seen at any coverage upon annealing.