Atomic-level studies of cluster diffusion on metal surfaces
Direct observations of atomic motion with the field ion microscope (FIM) are providing detailed information on the mechanisms and energetics by which small clusters migrate across metal surfaces. An important result to emerge from these studies is that the activation energies of surface diffusion for small clusters on fcc(100) surfaces are strongly correlated with their shape. For Rh clusters on Rh(100) this correlation leads to an oscillatory behavior in the cluster mobility as a function of cluster size. For Pt on Rh(100) the activation energy is constant as clusters increase in size from three to five atoms and is also correlated with shape. The atomic-level mechanism involved in cluster diffusion on fcc(100) surfaces is inferred from a comparison of the measured activation energies to previous theoretical calculations.
- Research Organization:
- Sandia National Labs., Albuquerque, NM (United States)
- Sponsoring Organization:
- USDOE, Washington, DC (United States)
- DOE Contract Number:
- AC04-94AL85000
- OSTI ID:
- 161516
- Report Number(s):
- SAND--95-2485C; CONF-951047--1; ON: DE96002477
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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