Abstract
Vicinal surfaces, which exhibit a regular array of steps, introduce defined arrangements ofsurface defects, which have the potential to create specific functionalities of the surface. Inparticular they can be used as templates for the growth of one-dimensional structures usingselective step decoration. In this article we discuss the properties of vicinal metal surfacesand how they can be used as nanotemplates. The requirements for the growth oflow-dimensional adsorbate structures at step edges of the vicinal (997) and (779)surfaces of platinum will be discussed in detail. Here energetics determined by thedifferent adsorption sites and the kinetics present through the diffusion processesplay an essential role. In order to obtain stable arrangements the propensity ofthe elements for alloy formation must be taken into account. Examples for theproperties of the structures obtained and their role in studying one-dimensionalsystems are discussed, and we give a short outlook on how the principles of stepdecoration might be extended to a kind of atomic assembly of more complex surfacenanostructures.
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