Self-limited growth of triangular PtO₂nanoclusters on the Pt(111) surface

Abstract

The high temperature oxidation of the Pt(111) surface by molecular oxygen has been studied using scanning tunnelling microscopy (STM) and low-energy electron diffraction (LEED). Results indicate a self-limited growth of well-ordered PtO 2 nanoclusters which have an O-Pt-O trilayer structure. Each nanocluster has a triangular shape and nucleates at the Pt(111) surface step edge due to mobility of Pt atoms. The triangular PtO 2 nanoislands on the upper and lower Pt(111) terraces represent two mirror domains with the mirror plane perpendicular to the substrate and aligned along the [1-10] direction of the latter. LEED data obtained from the nanostructured PtO 2 /Pt(111) surface show a characteristic (2×2) pattern. Different oxidation conditions lead to the formation of chemisorbed oxygen on the Pt(111) surface alongside PtO 2 nanoclusters. Oxygen adsorbs on the surface forming variety of structures which result in (3×3), (5×5) and (7×7) LEED patterns.

Self-assembly and ordering of C60 on the WO2/W(110) surface

“…Surprisingly, only few studies of C 60 on metal oxide surfaces have been performed to this end [42][43][44]. This is despite the fact that metal oxide surfaces and thin films have many potential applications in existing technologies [45][46][47][48][49] and may be used as nanostructured templates with preformed surface patterns [50][51][52][53] for molecular selfassembly.…”

Fe nanoclusters on the Ge(001) surface studied by scanning tunneling microscopy, density functional theory calculations and X-ray magnetic circular dichroism

“…The Ge(001)-(2×1) surface reconstruction is obtained through the pairing of nearestneighbour surface atoms, forming dimer rows oriented along the [1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9][10][11] crystallographic direction [32]. The c(4×2) reconstruction is observed on the Ge(001) surface at temperatures below 200 K [33].…”

“…1). It exhibits large terraces with the Ge dimers forming zig-zag rows oriented along the [1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9][10] direction, in agreement with previous studies [10,37] If the sample is left at room temperature under UHV conditions for more than one hour after Fe deposition, larger clusters are observed on the Ge(001) surface, similar to results obtained by Jordan et al [13]. Typical low temperature STM images of 0.2 ML of Fe on the Ge(001) surface are shown in Fig.…”

“…Annealing the Fe nanoclusters on the Ge(001) surface at 420 K for 30 minutes leads to the formation of nanorow structures (or linear nanocluster arrays) elongated along the [1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9][10] direction of the Ge dimer rows (Fig. 6a).…”

Writing with atoms: Oxygen adatoms on the MoO2/Mo(110) surface

“…Scanning probe lithography on the nanoscale can be performed in one of three modes: modification of the substrate, for example by resist exposure or oxidation; 9-12 material deposition; [13][14][15][16][17] or material removal or etching. [18][19][20] The oxidation of metal surfaces can produce a variety of ordered oxide nanostructures and twodimensional surface oxides, 21,22 which are of great significance for many applications including heterogeneous catalysis. 23,24 In this paper a novel lithography system is described, in which an STM tip is used to remove single oxygen adatoms from the oxidised molybdenum surface, which exhibits wellordered oxide nanorows.…”