Thermal expansion of the Ag(110) surface studied by low-energy electron diffraction and density-functional theory

Abstract

In this work we present the results concerning the investigation of the temperature dependence of the first three interlayer spacings of Ag(110) surface using low energy electron diffraction (LEED) analysis and density-functional theory and molecular dynamics over a wide temperature range. It was possible to observe significant changes in the thermal expansion of the first and second interlayer distances without detection of effects associated with an enhanced anharmonicity. The values of the Debye temperature of the first two layers were obtained by LEED and a comparison between these results and those from other techniques are presented and discussed.