Theory of Alkali-Metal-Induced Reconstruction of fcc (110) Surfaces

Abstract
The chemisorption energy and equilibrium configuration have been calculated for K adsorbed on Cu(110), by the effective-medium theory. At low coverages K is found to stabilize the (1×2) missing-row reconstructed surfe, whereas it stabilizes the unreconstructed structure at higher coverages. The calculations form the basis for a general understanding of why adsorbed alkali-metal atoms induce a (1×2) reconstruction of fcc (110) surfaces.