Mechanism and energetics for step merging on a metallic surface captured with scanning tunneling microscopy

Autor:	Steven J. Sibener, T. P. Pearl
Rok vydání:	2002
Předmět:	Coalescence (physics) Chemistry One-Step Surfaces and Interfaces Condensed Matter Physics Rate-determining step Surface energy Surfaces Coatings and Films law.invention Contact angle Crystallography Chemisorption law Chemical physics Microscopy Materials Chemistry Scanning tunneling microscope
Zdroj:	Surface Science. 496:L29-L34
ISSN:	0039-6028
DOI:	10.1016/s0039-6028(01)01637-5
Popis:	Scanning tunneling microscopy has been used to observe oxygen induced microfaceting of Ni(9 7 7) in the temperature range of 390–565 K. Step doubling occurs on this surface provided the step-edges are locally decorated with oxygen. In this letter, time-lapse images of this process have been used to resolve two key steps of the coalescence mechanism. Merging of steps is initiated by the bulging of one step in the downstairs direction towards its neighbor. This rate limiting step is followed by the second mechanistic process, namely zippering of adjacent steps. Merging step contact angles have been analyzed to extract information on the energetics of step–step interactions. These results give a real-space view of the atomic-level surface structural changes which accompany the initial stages of metallic oxidation of interfaces containing extended surface defects.
Databáze:	OpenAIRE
Externí odkaz:	https://explore.openaire.eu/search/publication?articleId=doi_________::25e362c028fc08b765e76c2c4f5d10d4 https://doi.org/10.1016/s0039-6028(01)01637-5 Zobrazit plný text záznamu Full Text from ScienceDirect