Structural changes of vicinal copper surfaces induced by oxygen adsorption

Abstract

The topographical evolution, induced by oxygen adsorption on several clean vicinal copper surfaces cut from the (100) pole along the [001] (kinked steps) and [ 0 11 ] (straight steps) zone axis has been examined by low energy electron diffraction and Auger electron spectroscopy. After a first stage of 2D faceting detected only on a complex kinked stepped surface, a 3D faceting occurs. The evolution of this 3D faceting with coverage is investigated. The (410) face is found to be stable whatever the coverage and the (810) face at saturation coverage only. A reconstruction arises on all the kinkless stepped surfaces. The new facets favoured by oxygen adsorption are essentially composed of (410) type and (100) orientations, linked in the case of the (711) face by (511) facets. The formation of (410) type and (100) facets, the stability of the (410) face and the reconstruction of the (810) face at coverages below saturation are discussed.