Pt(111) reconstruction induced by enhanced Pt gas-phase chemical potential

Abstract

Large terraces of the Pt(111) surface are shown to reconstruct in the presence of a Pt gas- phase environment down to 400 K. The lifting of the reconstruction in the absence of the Pt gas-phase is kinetically hindered up to 700 K. The main features of the reconstruction network as seen by the scanning tunneling microscope correspond to those inferred from x-ray scattering for the high-temperature (>1330 K) spontaneous Pt(111) reconstruction. The parallel double corrugation lines forming the network have basically the same structure as those seen on the reconstructed Au(111) surface.