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Diffusion of individual Pt atoms on single-crystal surfaces of rhodium

Journal Article · · Physical Review, B: Condensed Matter; (United States)
 [1]
  1. Sandia National Laboratories, Albuquerque, New Mexico 87112 (United States)

The diffusion of individual Pt atoms on five low-index crystal planes of Rh has been investigated by field-ion microscopy. The activation energy of surface diffusion is found to depend strongly on the crystal plane and to increase in the order of (111)[lt](311)[lt](110)[lt](331)[lt](100). It ranges from below 0.22 eV on Rh(111) to 0.92 eV on Rh(100). The diffusion mechanism on all surfaces is site-to-site hopping, with the exception of Rh(110), where convincing evidence for exchange displacements is obtained. The reflection barrier against migration off the plane edge also exhibits a strong structure sensitivity, from a large reflection on Rh(311) to essentially none on Rh(100) and Rh(331). The results are compared with previous field-ion-microscope studies of self-diffusion on Rh and Pt.

DOE Contract Number:
AC04-76DP00789
OSTI ID:
5968026
Journal Information:
Physical Review, B: Condensed Matter; (United States), Journal Name: Physical Review, B: Condensed Matter; (United States) Vol. 48:15; ISSN PRBMDO; ISSN 0163-1829
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English