Reconstruction of steps on the Cu(111) surface induced by sulfur

Journal Article · Thu May 21 00:00:00 EDT 2015 · Journal of Chemical Physics

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1063/1.4921258· OSTI ID:22415812

Walen, Holly ^[1]; Liu, Da-Jiang ^[2]; Oh, Junepyo; Lim, Hyunseob; Kim, Yousoo ^[3]; Evans, J. W. ^[2]; Thiel, P. A. ^[1]

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1. Department of Chemistry, Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa 50011 (United States)
2. Ames Laboratory of the USDOE, Ames, Iowa 50011 (United States)
3. RIKEN Surface and Interface Science Laboratory, Wako, Saitama 351-0198 (Japan)

A rich menagerie of structures is identified at 5 K following adsorption of low coverages (≤0.05 monolayers) of S on Cu(111) at room temperature. This paper emphasizes the reconstructions at the steps. The A-type close-packed step has 1 row of S atoms along its lower edge, where S atoms occupy alternating pseudo-fourfold-hollow (p4fh) sites. Additionally, there are 2 rows of S atoms of equal density on the upper edge, bridging a row of extra Cu atoms, together creating an extended chain. The B-type close-packed step exhibits an even more complex reconstruction, in which triangle-shaped groups of Cu atoms shift out of their original sites and form a base for S adsorption at (mostly) 4fh sites. We propose a mechanism by which these triangles could generate Cu–S complexes and short chains like those observed on the terraces.

• OSTI ID: 22415812
• Journal Information: Journal of Chemical Physics, Vol. 142, Issue 19; Other Information: (c) 2015 AIP Publishing LLC; Country of input: International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA); ISSN 0021-9606
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

37 INORGANIC
ORGANIC
PHYSICAL AND ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY
ADSORPTION
ATOMS
CHAINS
COPPER
CRYSTAL STRUCTURE
DENSITY
SULFUR
SULFUR COMPLEXES
SURFACES
TEMPERATURE RANGE 0273-0400 K