O chemisorption on Cu(110) by scanning tunneling microscopy

Abstract

The process of oxygen chemisorption on a Cu(110) surface has been observed dynamically using scanning tunneling microscopy. The chemisorbed oxygen is found to nucleate on terraces, and not at step edges. Isolated chains grow along the 〈001〉 directions after homogeneous nucleation, due to interaction anisotropy along the 〈001〉 and 〈11¯0〉 directions. Cu atoms diffuse in from step edges and terrace patches to form ‘‘added rows.’’ Computer-simulation results suggest the growth mechanism of the chemisorbed layer.