BISMUTH INDUCED STRUCTURES ON COPPER(100)

Different submonolayer phases of bismuth on copper (100) have been investigated with low-energy electron diffraction and Auger electron spectroscopy. The room temperature observations, made after deposition Bi onto well annealed Cu, agreed with those reported previously. Below room temperature, a low coverage c(2 x 4) phase was observed. With increasing Bi coverage, this phase was observed to coexist with the c(2 x 2) phase, until finally, only the c(2 x 2) phase was observed. Restructuring of the Cu substrate into {210} facets, at 26-degrees-34' angle with the original (100) surface, was obtained by depositing Bi onto roughened Cu(100), and subsequently annealing. A possible explanation for the nucleation and growth of these facets is given.