title: Adsorption-induced step formation.
abstract: Through an interplay between density functional calculations, Monte Carlo simulations and scanning tunneling microscopy experiments, we show that an intermediate coverage of CO on the Pt(110) surface gives rise to a new rough equilibrium structure with more than 50% step atoms. CO is shown to bind so strongly to low-coordinated Pt atoms that it can break Pt-Pt bonds and spontaneously form steps on the surface. It is argued that adsorption-induced step formation may be a general effect, in particular at high gas pressures and temperatures.
authors.affiliation: CAMP, Institute of Physics and Astronomy, University of Aarhus, DK-8000 Aarhus, Denmark.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Thostrup
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Christoffersen
authors.forename: H T
authors.initials: HT
authors.lastname: Lorensen
authors.forename: K W
authors.initials: KW
authors.lastname: Jacobsen
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Besenbacher
authors.forename: J K
authors.initials: JK
authors.lastname: Nørskov