FACETING INDUCED BY AN ULTRATHIN METAL-FILM - PT ON W(111)

The interaction of ultrathin films on Pt with a W(111) surface has been studied using low energy electron diffraction (LEED), Auger electron spectroscopy (AES) and scanning tunneling microscopy (STM). When W(111) is covered with $ ̌1.1 × 1015 Pt atoms cm2 and heated in the range 800-1600 K, the surface undergoes a massive restructuring to form microscopic facets. At 1200 K., the average facet dimensions are ≳ 100 Å, and the dominant facet orientation is W(211). The faceting appears to be driven by a Pt-enhanced anisotropy in the surface free energy. © 1990.