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Growth and oxidation of ultra-thin Pt-Sn layers on Pt(111) by molecular and atomic oxygen

Braud, N. ; Buß, L. ; Merte, L. LU ; Wallander, H. LU ; Krisponeit, J. O. ; Schmidt, T. ; Lundgren, E. LU ; Flege, J. I. and Falta, J. (2025) In Ultramicroscopy 278.
Abstract

The preparation of ultra-thin PtSn-alloyed layers by molecular beam epitaxy was studied using low-energy electron microscopy (LEEM) and micro-diffraction (μ-LEED). Deposition at a sample temperature of 435 °C initially results in the formation of a Pt3Sn/Pt(111) layer showing a (2 × 2) reconstruction. With continued Sn deposition, a Pt2Sn/Pt(111) layer develops, showing a (3×3)R30° reconstruction. An ultra-thin tin oxide was formed from the (2 × 2) surface by exposure to molecular oxygen at temperatures of 500 °C and 590 °C, respectively. LEED shows the evolution of a new surface structure, which could be identified as an incommensurate rectangular 2.301.83.6 reconstruction with lattice parameters of a = (6.4 ±... (More)

The preparation of ultra-thin PtSn-alloyed layers by molecular beam epitaxy was studied using low-energy electron microscopy (LEEM) and micro-diffraction (μ-LEED). Deposition at a sample temperature of 435 °C initially results in the formation of a Pt3Sn/Pt(111) layer showing a (2 × 2) reconstruction. With continued Sn deposition, a Pt2Sn/Pt(111) layer develops, showing a (3×3)R30° reconstruction. An ultra-thin tin oxide was formed from the (2 × 2) surface by exposure to molecular oxygen at temperatures of 500 °C and 590 °C, respectively. LEED shows the evolution of a new surface structure, which could be identified as an incommensurate rectangular 2.301.83.6 reconstruction with lattice parameters of a = (6.4 ± 0.1) Å and b = (8.6 ± 0.1) Å present in three domains rotated by 120° with respect to each other. This structure can be related to the zigzag reconstructions found for similar ultra-thin oxide systems. Contrarily, the (3×3)R30° structure showed no oxide formation even after extensive exposure to molecular oxygen. The usage of atomic oxygen, however, allows for oxidation of this surface and the growth of thicker oxides on both types of overlayers. At 500 °C this process is accompanied by substantial roughening of the surface.

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author
; ; ; ; ; ; ; and
organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
keywords
LEED, LEEM, Oxidation, Platinum, Platinum-tin, SnOx, Tin, Tin oxide, Ultra-thin films
in
Ultramicroscopy
volume
278
article number
114243
publisher
Elsevier
external identifiers
  • pmid:41033003
  • scopus:105017426003
ISSN
0304-3991
DOI
10.1016/j.ultramic.2025.114243
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
ce8ca695-c97b-4753-a5f6-f31719999693
date added to LUP
2025-11-21 15:34:16
date last changed
2025-12-19 18:53:54
@article{ce8ca695-c97b-4753-a5f6-f31719999693,
  abstract     = {{<p>The preparation of ultra-thin PtSn-alloyed layers by molecular beam epitaxy was studied using low-energy electron microscopy (LEEM) and micro-diffraction (μ-LEED). Deposition at a sample temperature of 435 °C initially results in the formation of a Pt<sub>3</sub>Sn/Pt(111) layer showing a (2 × 2) reconstruction. With continued Sn deposition, a Pt<sub>2</sub>Sn/Pt(111) layer develops, showing a (3×3)R30° reconstruction. An ultra-thin tin oxide was formed from the (2 × 2) surface by exposure to molecular oxygen at temperatures of 500 °C and 590 °C, respectively. LEED shows the evolution of a new surface structure, which could be identified as an incommensurate rectangular 2.301.83.6 reconstruction with lattice parameters of a = (6.4 ± 0.1) Å and b = (8.6 ± 0.1) Å present in three domains rotated by 120° with respect to each other. This structure can be related to the zigzag reconstructions found for similar ultra-thin oxide systems. Contrarily, the (3×3)R30° structure showed no oxide formation even after extensive exposure to molecular oxygen. The usage of atomic oxygen, however, allows for oxidation of this surface and the growth of thicker oxides on both types of overlayers. At 500 °C this process is accompanied by substantial roughening of the surface.</p>}},
  author       = {{Braud, N. and Buß, L. and Merte, L. and Wallander, H. and Krisponeit, J. O. and Schmidt, T. and Lundgren, E. and Flege, J. I. and Falta, J.}},
  issn         = {{0304-3991}},
  keywords     = {{LEED; LEEM; Oxidation; Platinum; Platinum-tin; SnOx; Tin; Tin oxide; Ultra-thin films}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  publisher    = {{Elsevier}},
  series       = {{Ultramicroscopy}},
  title        = {{Growth and oxidation of ultra-thin Pt-Sn layers on Pt(111) by molecular and atomic oxygen}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ultramic.2025.114243}},
  doi          = {{10.1016/j.ultramic.2025.114243}},
  volume       = {{278}},
  year         = {{2025}},
}