Growth, thermal stability and structure of ultrathin Zn-layers on Pd(1 1 1).
Low-energy ion scattering with monolayer sensitivity was applied to investigate ultrathin films of zinc on Pd(1 1 1). Uptake curves taken at 150 K indicate the simultaneous growth of multilayers with negligible interlayer transport. Annealing experiments for two-monolayer films reveal a rapid decrease in the zinc content on the surface layer at temperatures above 300 K, forming a metastable state with a Pd:Zn surface ratio of approx. 1:1 in the temperature region between 400 and 550 K. This state is most easily explained as a slightly buckled p(2 × 1)-PdZn surface alloy, with Zn atoms located approx. 0.25 Å above their Pd counterparts.
Institute of Physical Chemistry, University of Innsbruck, Innrain 52a, A-6020 Innsbruck, Austria.
Werner
W
Stadlmayr
Simon
S
Penner
Bernhard
B
Klötzer
Norbert
N
Memmel