Abstract
The potential and application of low-energy ion backscattering for surface structure determination is discussed. Low-energy impact collision ion scattering spectroscopy (ICISS) supplies a real-space image of the geometry of surfaces. ICISS with noble gas ions and ion detection only is hampered by the large neutralization effect. Substantial improvement is obtained by the use of primary alkali ions (ALICISS) or the detection of scattered noble gas neutral atoms (NICISS). A missing-row-type reconstruction has been found for Pt(110)-(1×2), Au(110)-(1×2), and the oxygen induced reconstruction of O/Ni(110)-(2×1) and O/Cu(110)-(2×1). The hydrogen induced reconstruction of H/Pd(110)-(1×2), on the other hand, is clearly represented by a pairing row atomic arrangement with an alternating 0.4-Å lateral displacement of close packed 〈110〉 Pd rows.