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Growth, structure, and morphology of ultra-thin tin oxide phases forming on Pt3Sn(111) single crystals upon exposure to oxygen

Braud, N. ; Wallander, H. J. LU ; Buß, L. ; Löfstrand, M. ; Blomqvist, J. LU ; Berschauer, C. LU orcid ; Rodriguez, A. Morales ; Kofoed, P. M. LU ; Resta, A. LU and Krisponeit, J. O. , et al. (2026) In Surface Science 767.
Abstract

Here we report an investigation of ultrathin tin oxide films on Pt3Sn(111) using low-energy electron microscopy (LEEM), microspot low-energy electron diffraction (μ-LEED), scanning tunneling microscopy (STM), surface X-ray diffraction (SXRD), and high-resolution X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). Oxidation at ∼390–410 °C produces triangular, two-dimensional oxide islands that nucleate rapidly and exhibit self-limited lateral growth, attributed to limited Sn diffusion from the subsurface of the crystal. μ-LEED shows that the initially formed (4×4) Sn oxide is subsequently converted to a more oxygen-rich (2×2n) “stripe” phase. At 630 °C, enhanced Sn mobility enables a closed (4×4) film. The (2×2n) phase is shown to consist... (More)

Here we report an investigation of ultrathin tin oxide films on Pt3Sn(111) using low-energy electron microscopy (LEEM), microspot low-energy electron diffraction (μ-LEED), scanning tunneling microscopy (STM), surface X-ray diffraction (SXRD), and high-resolution X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). Oxidation at ∼390–410 °C produces triangular, two-dimensional oxide islands that nucleate rapidly and exhibit self-limited lateral growth, attributed to limited Sn diffusion from the subsurface of the crystal. μ-LEED shows that the initially formed (4×4) Sn oxide is subsequently converted to a more oxygen-rich (2×2n) “stripe” phase. At 630 °C, enhanced Sn mobility enables a closed (4×4) film. The (2×2n) phase is shown to consist of a (2×2) Sn lattice modulated by 1D stripe defects with spacings of n=4–6 atomic rows; LEED and SXRD measurements show diffraction features corresponding to this striped superstructure. The two oxides can be distinguished in XPS by their O 1s lineshapes: the (4×4) phase shows a clear doublet attributable to distinct O species, whereas the (2×2n) phase exhibits a broader envelope consistent with a distribution of O coordination environments. The Sn 3d5/2 spectra are similar for both phases, reflecting closely related Sn bonding motifs. The spectra are consistent with those of previous near-ambient-pressure XPS measurements, suggesting that the surface oxides forming under CO oxidation conditions are similar to those studied here.

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organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
keywords
LEEM, Platinum-tin, SnOx, STM, SXRD, Tin oxide
in
Surface Science
volume
767
article number
122927
publisher
Elsevier
external identifiers
  • scopus:105026657209
ISSN
0039-6028
DOI
10.1016/j.susc.2025.122927
language
English
LU publication?
yes
additional info
Publisher Copyright: © 2026 The Authors
id
64331a34-dfe6-46a5-b45d-dd2ec1ad1cef
date added to LUP
2026-03-13 16:22:12
date last changed
2026-04-25 02:18:58
@article{64331a34-dfe6-46a5-b45d-dd2ec1ad1cef,
  abstract     = {{<p>Here we report an investigation of ultrathin tin oxide films on Pt<sub>3</sub>Sn(111) using low-energy electron microscopy (LEEM), microspot low-energy electron diffraction (μ-LEED), scanning tunneling microscopy (STM), surface X-ray diffraction (SXRD), and high-resolution X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). Oxidation at ∼390–410 °C produces triangular, two-dimensional oxide islands that nucleate rapidly and exhibit self-limited lateral growth, attributed to limited Sn diffusion from the subsurface of the crystal. μ-LEED shows that the initially formed (4×4) Sn oxide is subsequently converted to a more oxygen-rich (2×2n) “stripe” phase. At 630 °C, enhanced Sn mobility enables a closed (4×4) film. The (2×2n) phase is shown to consist of a (2×2) Sn lattice modulated by 1D stripe defects with spacings of n=4–6 atomic rows; LEED and SXRD measurements show diffraction features corresponding to this striped superstructure. The two oxides can be distinguished in XPS by their O 1s lineshapes: the (4×4) phase shows a clear doublet attributable to distinct O species, whereas the (2×2n) phase exhibits a broader envelope consistent with a distribution of O coordination environments. The Sn 3d<sub>5/2</sub> spectra are similar for both phases, reflecting closely related Sn bonding motifs. The spectra are consistent with those of previous near-ambient-pressure XPS measurements, suggesting that the surface oxides forming under CO oxidation conditions are similar to those studied here.</p>}},
  author       = {{Braud, N. and Wallander, H. J. and Buß, L. and Löfstrand, M. and Blomqvist, J. and Berschauer, C. and Rodriguez, A. Morales and Kofoed, P. M. and Resta, A. and Krisponeit, J. O. and Schmidt, T. and Lundgren, E. and Flege, J. I. and Falta, J. and Merte, L. R.}},
  issn         = {{0039-6028}},
  keywords     = {{LEEM; Platinum-tin; SnOx; STM; SXRD; Tin oxide}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  publisher    = {{Elsevier}},
  series       = {{Surface Science}},
  title        = {{Growth, structure, and morphology of ultra-thin tin oxide phases forming on Pt<sub>3</sub>Sn(111) single crystals upon exposure to oxygen}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.susc.2025.122927}},
  doi          = {{10.1016/j.susc.2025.122927}},
  volume       = {{767}},
  year         = {{2026}},
}