Huang C, MacLaren DA, Bacon RT, Allison W. The surface phase diagram of Li/Cu(001) explored by helium atom scattering.
JOURNAL OF PHYSICS. CONDENSED MATTER : AN INSTITUTE OF PHYSICS JOURNAL 2011;
23:355001. [PMID:
21775801 DOI:
10.1088/0953-8984/23/35/355001]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/31/2023]
Abstract
We use helium atom scattering to investigate the structures formed by Li adsorption onto Cu(001) in the 0-2 ML regime. Submonolayer growth at 180 K proceeds through a sequence of ordered overlayers, including a c(2 × 2) structure at 0.5 ML and a series of 'ladder' superlattices around 0.6 ML. Beyond 1 ML, incommensurate, three-dimensional Li islands develop. A quantum close-coupled scattering analysis is performed to study the empirical He-surface potential of the structurally heterogeneous ladder structures. Good agreement with the measured distribution of diffracted intensity is obtained by describing the He-ladder interaction potential as the summation of only six one-dimensional Fourier components. The fitted potential indicates a remarkably flat surface that is punctuated by substantial, striped protrusions in the electron density. The result is consistent with the formation of one-dimensional Li wires, indicating an inhomogeneous metallization process.
Collapse