Interaction of bromine with Ni(110) studied by scanning tunnelling microscopy

Journal article

The adsorption of bromine on Ni(110) has been studied by scanning tunnelling microscopy (STM). At low bromine coverage `butterfly' structures are observed in STM, built up from `pairs of pairs' of greyscale maxima. Two alternative models for the butterflies are discussed, the most plausible of which involves location of dissociated Br atoms in two-fold hollow sites flanked by pairs of Ni adatoms. At higher coverages the discrete butterfly structure breaks down and adatom pairs form a disordered arrangement on the surface. Annealing a Br-saturated surface to 200 °C for 1 h leads to formation of a well-ordered p(3×2) reconstruction that produces sharp superstructure spots in LEED. The superstructure involves alternating rows with atomic sequences Ni-Br-Br-Ni-Br-Br-Ni and Br-Ni-Ni-Br-Ni-Ni-Br. The binding of Br butterflies to Ni(110) at low coverage is too strong to allow facile manipulation with the tip of the STM.

Authors: Fishlock, T; Pethica, J; Oral, A; Egdell, R; Jones, F

• Publication status: Published
• Publisher: Elsevier
• Journal: SURFACE SCIENCE
• Volume: 426
• Issue: 2
• Pages: 212-224
• Publication date: 1999-05-10
• DOI: 10.1016/S0039-6028(99)00323-4
• ISSN: 0039-6028
• Language: English
• Keywords: bromine; Ni(110); scanning tunnelling microscopy (STM); interaction; nickel