A reversible reaction forming (-Cu-O-) strings and (Cu)(6)-clusters on Ag(110) shown by STM

An artificial new surface of (-Cu-O-) chains grown on Ag(110) surface was prepared by reacting a p(2 x 1)Ag-O/Ag(110) surface with Cu atoms, where the (-Cu-O-) chains grow in the [1(1) over bar0$] direction and are self-assembled on the Ag(110) surface in a (2 x 2)-p2mg structure. When the Cu-O/Ag(110) surface was heated in vacuum, the (-Cu-O-) chain decomposed to uniform size Cu-atom cluster dots arranged along the [1(1) over bar0$] direction, where the cluster dots were composed of six Cu atoms. When the Ag(110) surface with the Cu-duster dots was exposed to O-2, the (-Cu-O-) lines were redrawn along the [1(1) over bar0$] direction by reacting a series of dots in the [1(1) over bar0$] direction with O-2. This is a reversible chemical reaction in one dimensional regime proved in atomic resolution.