Faceting of the Mo(111) surface by ultrathin Pd and Pt films

Abstract

The interaction of Pd and Pt ultrathin films with a Mo(111) substrate has been investigated by means of Auger electron spectroscopy, low energy electron diffraction, and temperature programmed desorption. The deposition of greater than one physical monolayer of Pd or Pt followed by annealing to temperatures greater than 700 K induces the Mo(111) surface to reconstruct forming pyramidal facets with {211} orientation. For Pd overlayers we observe streaking in the low energy electron diffraction pattern for annealing temperatures between 700 and 1100 K which is explained by a (1×n) reconstruction on the surface. Pd and Pt are among the elements that can also induce faceting on W(111).