Directional anisotropy of surface self-diffusion on Pt(110)

The rate of surface self-diffusion on a Pt(110) single crystal in the 1$\text{1}$0] and 001] directions was measured at 1200–1750 K by monitoring the decay of a sinusoidal surface profile. The surface diffusion rate in the 1$\text{1}$o] direction was much faster than in the 001] direction. The activation energy of surface self-diffusion was 1.70 and 3.16 eV for the 1$\text{1}$0] and 001] directions, respectively, in good agreement with theoretical estimates. For large amplitudes of the profile the decay rate for the 001] direction was also dependent on the amplitude. This behavior can be explained by the appearance of (111) facets on the profile, which cause a retardation of the profile decay.