A first-principles study of oxygen adsorption and interaction with Al adatoms on Al(110)

We use first-principles density-functional theory to identify several stable binding sites for adsorbed O₂ and O on Al(110). Our calculations indicate that it is energetically favorable for O₂ to dissociate to two atoms on Al(110). When O₂ dissociates, it is energetically favorable for the resulting O atoms to exist as dimers. We identify several possible configurations for O dimers on this surface, and quantify atomic interactions between an Al adatom and these dimers. Our work provides insight into the initial stages of oxidation of Al(110), as well as the role of oxygen impurities in Al thin-film epitaxy.     

Substrate mediated long-range oscillatory interaction between adatoms: Cu /Cu(111)

A quantitative study of the long-range interaction between single copper adatoms on Cu(111) mediated by the electrons in the two-dimensional surface-state band is presented. The interaction potential was determined by evaluating the distance distribution of two adatoms from a series of scanning tunneling microscopy images taken at temperatures of 9-21 K. The long-range interaction is oscillatory with a period of half the Fermi wavelength and decays for larger distances d as 1/d(2). Five potential minima were identified for separations of up to 70 A. The interaction significantly changes the growth of Cu/Cu(111) at low temperatures.     

Adsorption sites of Ge adatoms on stepped Si(110) surface

We have investigated the possible adsorption sites of Ge adatoms on stepped Si(110) surface by total electronic energy calculations using the empirical tight-binding method. It has been found that Ge adatoms prefer to bond to the Si atoms at or near the step. In the case of more than one adatom the minimum total electronic energy configuration corresponds to the maximum number of saturated Si atoms.     

The ferromagnetic monolayer Fe(110) on W(110)

Ferromagnetic order in the pseudomorphic monolayer Fe(110) on W(110) was analyzed experimentally using Conversion Electron Mössbauer Spectroscopy (CEMS) and Torsion Oscillation Magnetometry (TOM). The monolayer is thermodynamically stable, crystallizes to large monolayer patches at elevated temperatures and therefore forms an excellent approximation to the ideal monolayer structure. It is ferromagnetic below a Curie-temperatureT _c,mono, which is given by (282±3) K for the Ag-coated layer, (290±10) K for coating by Cu, Ag or Au and ≈210 K for the free monolayer. For the Ag-coated monolayer, ground state hyperfine fieldB _hf (0)=(11.9±0.3) T and magnetic moment per atom μ=2.53 μ_B could be determined, in fair agreement with theoretical predictions. Unusual properties of the phase transition are detected by the combination of both experimental techniques. Strong magnetic anisotropies, which are essential for ferromagnetic order, are determined by CEMS.     

Role of electronic correlations in the stability of diatomic and triatomic clusters of 5d adatoms on W(110)

The experimental interaction energy of 5d dimers on W(110) is weak and decreases when going from Ta₂ to Re₂ where it vanishes and raises again, although more slowly, from Re₂ to Pt₂. We show here that such a behaviour, which cannot be explained within a one electron theory, can be interpreted by taking into account electronic correlation effects.     

Stress induced stripe formation in Pd/W(110)

A stress-induced stripe phase of submonolayer Pd on W(110) is observed by low-energy electron microscopy. The temperature dependence of the pattern is explained by the change both in the boundary free energy and elastic relaxation energy due to the increasing boundary width. The stripes are shown to disorder when the correlation length of the condensed phase becomes comparable to its period, while the condensate to lattice-gas transition takes place at a higher temperature, as revealed by low-energy electron diffraction.     

Direct observation of strain relaxation in iron layers on W(110) by time-resolved STM

Time-resolved,in-situ-applied STM has been used to study the epitaxial growth of iron on W(110) at room temperature. By this way, sequences of STM images show directly the atomistics of the growth process on the surface. The first layer of iron on W(110) grows pseudomorphically without a preferred growth direction. Beginning with the second layer, the islands grow anisotropically with preferred growth in the [001]-direction. The generation of an ordered two-dimensional dislocation network starts at a coverage of 1.4 pseudomorphic monolayers to relax the misfit of 9.4%. A direct correlation of the creation of misfit dislocations in the second layer and the nucleation of the third-layer islands was found. Together with the onset of strain relaxation, the growth mode abruptly changes from layer-by-layer to statistical growth. A quantitative statistical analysis of the data allows to exactly determine the onset of relaxation, the vertical location of the dislocation lines, and the lateral extension of an island that is necessary to induce the formation of dislocations.     

Noble-metal nanostructures on carburized W(110)

Noble metal nanostructures of Au, Ag and Cu were prepared on two types of carbon-modified W(110) surfaces—R(15 × 12) and R(15 × 3)—and investigated by means of scanning tunneling microscopy. For all deposited metals qualitatively the same behaviour is observed: On the R(15 × 12)-template always isotropic clusters are formed. In contrast, on the R(15 × 3)-substrate the anisotropy of the nanostructures can be tuned from clusters at low temperatures via thin nanowires to thicker nanobars at high deposition temperatures. At intermediate temperatures on the R(15 × 3) the anisotropic Au nanowires arrange themselves into straight lines along domain boundaries induced by deposition of the Au metal. Similarities and differences to Au nanostructures as recently reported by Varykhalov et al. [A. Varykhalov, O. Rader, W. Gudat. Physical Review B 77, 035412 (2008).] are discussed.     

Mechanism for the self-diffusion of Au and Ir adatoms on Pt(110) surface

A molecular dynamics computer technique was used to simulate the diffusion of a Au and and Ir adatom on the Pt(110) surface. Details of the exchange mechanism associated with cross-channel diffusion were observed. For the Au adatom at the low temperature, the expected channel diffusion occurred, whereas at the higher temperature a temporary exchange of the Pt wall atom by the Au adatom was seen. In the Ir case at the low temperature no exchange was observed, although there was a partial displacement of the wall atom by the adatom. At the higher temperature, the exchange mechanism was observed. The results are consistent with experimental observations and also indicate the importance of the stability of the channel wall atoms (via their thermal motion) on the occurrence of the exchange mechanism.     

Surface magnetism of iron on W(110)

Ultrathin bcc iron films grown epitaxially on W(110) have been investigated by means of angle and spin resolving photoelectron spectroscopy. The electron spin polarization, spin resolved intensities and corresponding band structure have been experimentally investigated in dependence of the film thickness, exciting photon energy and variation of the photoelectron detection angle. Additionally, photoemission calculations for bulk iron have been performed in the framework of a relativistic one-step formalism. The comparison between measured and calculated spectra turns out to be in very good agreement for different excitation energies as well as for different angles of emission.     

Vibrational modes of oxygen on W(110)

Electron energy loss measurements of the vibrational modes of oxygen on W(110) as a function of coverage up to 0.5 monolayer are presented and analyzed. A single loss at 67 meV is observed initially; with increasing exposure this loss shifts to 72 meV and another loss appears at 47 meV. These data indicate coexistence of two species on the surface with a coverage-dependent conversion. Angular profiles of the specular elastic beam show a dramatic increase in width with initial oxygen coverage; this is possibly due to an oxygen-induced static disordering of the W surface layer.     

Periodic lattice distortions in epitaxial films of Fe(110) on W(110)

The epitaxial growth of Fe(110) on W(110) at 500 K is analyzed using LEED and AES. Frank-van der Merwe growth is established by AES. According to LEED, pseudomorphism occurs up to θ = 1.64, where every W atom of two topmost W layers is just covered by exactly one Fe atom. For 2?θ?9, characteristic reflection-multiplets are observed, symmetric about the basic Fe(110) reflections, which are interpreted in terms of periodic lattice distortions. The latter are caused by interaction with the misfitting W substrate.     

Surface crystallography of W(110) and W(110) p (2×1)-O: The position of W atoms

The position of W atoms in the surface layers of clean W (110) and W (110) p (2 × 1)-O is studied using Constant-Momentum-Transfer Averaging of LEED intensities. It is shown that the clean surface is not relaxed to an uncertainty of < 0.06 Å. Analysis of superstructure beam intensity averages from W(110) p (2 × 1)-O indicates that oxygen does not reconstruct W(110) at these coverages and below 1000 ° K. An upper limit of 0.05 Å can be put on the out-of-plane displacement of W atoms by the oxygen. Substrate beam averages from W (110) p (2 × 1)-O verify the non-reconstruction. The use of CMTA for adsorbed-layer crystallography in general is briefly discussed.     

Comparison between Rydberg surface resonances on W(001) and W(110)

Comparison is made between high-resolution LEED measurements of electronic surface resonances in the (00) beam from W(001) and W(110). The study of W(110) extended to several polar angles of incidence provides new information that helps to explain the data obtained on W(001) at a fixed angle.     

Interaction of cesium and oxygen on W(110): I. Cesium adsorption on oxygenated and oxidized W(110)

Cesium adsorption on oxygenated and oxidized W(110) is studied by Auger electron spectroscopy, LEED, thermal desorption and work function measurements. For oxygen coverages up to 1.5 × 10¹⁵ cm^?2 (oxygenated surface), preadsorbed oxygen lowers the cesiated work function minimum, the lowest (～1 eV) being obtained on a two-dimensional oxide structure with 1.4 × 10¹⁵ oxygen atoms per cm². Thermal desorption spectra of neutral cesium show that the oxygen adlayer increases the cesium desorption energy in the limit of small cesium coverages, by the same amount as it increases the substrate work function. Cesium adsorption destroys the p(2 × 1) and p(2 × 2) oxygen structures, but the 2D-oxide structure is left nearly unchanged. Beyond 1.5 × 10¹⁵ cm^?2 (oxidized surface), the work function minimum rises very rapidly with the oxygen coverage, as tungsten oxides begin to form. On bulk tungsten oxide layers, cesium appears to diffuse into the oxide, possibly forming a cesium tungsten bronze, characterized by a new desorption state. The thermal stability of the 2D-oxide structure on W(110) and the facetting of less dense tungsten planes suggest a way to achieve stable low work functions of interest in thermionic energy conversion applications.     

Substrate tuned reconstructed polymerization of naphthalocyanine on Ag(110)

The linkage structures between monomers make great influence on the properties of polymers.The synthesis of some special linkage structures can be challenging,which is often overcome by employing special reaction conditions.Here,we build dihydropentalene linkage in poly-naphthalocyanine on Ag(110)surface.Scanning tunneling microscopy(STM)and non-contact atomic force microscopy(nc-AFM)measurements confirm the dihydropentalene linkage structure and a possible formation path with reconstruction steps is proposed.The controlled experiment on Ag(100)surface shows no dihydropentalene structures formed,which indicates the grooved substrate is necessary for the reconstruction.This work provides insights into the surface restricted reactions that can yield special structures in organic polymers.