title: Island Ripening via a Polymerization-Depolymerization Mechanism.
abstract: In catalytic methanol oxidation on ultrathin vanadium oxide layers on Rh(111) (Θ_{V}≈0.2 monolayer equivalent) we observe a 2D ripening of the VO_{x} islands that is controlled by the catalytic reaction. Neighboring VO_{x} islands move under reaction conditions towards each other and coalesce. The motion and the coalescence of the islands are explained by a polymerization-depolymerization equilibrium that is sensitive to gradients in the adsorbate coverages.
authors.affiliation: Institut für Physikalische Chemie und Elektrochemie, Leibniz-Universität Hannover, Callinstrasse 3-3a, D-30167 Hannover, Germany.
authors.forename: Martin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hesse
authors.affiliation: Institut für Physikalische Chemie und Elektrochemie, Leibniz-Universität Hannover, Callinstrasse 3-3a, D-30167 Hannover, Germany.
authors.forename: Bernhard
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: von Boehn
authors.affiliation: Elettra-Sincrotrone Trieste, S.C.p.A., S.S. 14, km 163.5 in AREA Science Park, 34149 Basovizza, Trieste, Italy.
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Locatelli
authors.affiliation: Elettra-Sincrotrone Trieste, S.C.p.A., S.S. 14, km 163.5 in AREA Science Park, 34149 Basovizza, Trieste, Italy.
authors.forename: Alessandro
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sala
authors.affiliation: Elettra-Sincrotrone Trieste, S.C.p.A., S.S. 14, km 163.5 in AREA Science Park, 34149 Basovizza, Trieste, Italy.
authors.forename: Tevfik O
authors.initials: TO
authors.lastname: Menteş
authors.affiliation: Institut für Physikalische Chemie und Elektrochemie, Leibniz-Universität Hannover, Callinstrasse 3-3a, D-30167 Hannover, Germany.
authors.forename: Ronald
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Imbihl