Massively Cooperative Adsorbate‐Induced Surface Restructuring and Nanocluster Formation

Abstract

Atoms on the move: NO2 lifts the Au{111} herringbone surface reconstruction at 78 K through a massively cooperative restructuring step, which involves on the order of 600 NO2 molecules (blue; see STM image) and 80–100 Au atoms. Mesoscopic island ordering is a precursor to the process, and Au nanoclusters (green/yellow) form as the restructuring proceeds.