Surface reconstruction of Cu (111) upon oxygen adsorption

Low-energy He⁺ ion scattering (IS) in combination with AES, LEED and work function measurements has been applied for the determination of surface reconstruction of Cu(111) upon oxygen adsorption. IS data clearly indicate that oxygen is not significant incorporated into the bulk at room temperature adsorption, however the surface shows reconstruction by displacement of Cu atoms by 0.3 Å. The disappearance of structure of both Cu_IS and O_IS in the “?_in pattern” demonstrate the development of a disordered layer of reconstruction centres. At saturation coverage, a rough and dis-ordered oxygen-copper surface layer is present.