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Title: Coadsorbate Induced Reconstruction of a Stepped Pt(111) Surface by Sulfur and CO: A Novel Surface Restructuring Mechanism Observed by Scanning Tunneling Microscopy

Journal Article · · Physical Review Letters
; ; ;  [1]
  1. Materials Sciences Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, University of California, Berkeley, California 94720 (United States)

The chemisorption of sulfur and CO was found to have profound effects on the structure of s stepped platinum surface. By itself, sulfur chemisorbs, forming a {ital p}(2{times}2) ordered structure, and destabilizes the step structure by inducing doubling of the terrace widths and step heights. Subsequent coadsorption of CO displaces the sulfur, compressing it to distances of {radical}3 times the Pt lattice spacing. In addition to displacing S, CO enhances Pt atom diffusion from the double heights steps, restructuring the surface by forming new terraces separated by monatomic height steps. These new terraces contain exclusively CO, while the compressed sulfur overlayer is found on the alternating terraces. The segregation of CO and S and their effect on the substrate morphology has strong implications in the mechanisms of surface catalyzed reactions. {copyright} {ital 1996 The American Physical Society.}

Research Organization:
Lawrence Berkeley National Lab. (LBNL), Berkeley, CA (United States)
DOE Contract Number:
AC03-76SF00098
OSTI ID:
286744
Journal Information:
Physical Review Letters, Vol. 77, Issue 3; Other Information: PBD: Jul 1996
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English