Complex surface alloy formed by Li deposition on Cu(001) determined by dynamical low-energy electron diffraction

Abstract

A detailed structure determination of a complex surface alloy formed by alkali-metal deposition on a metal substrate yields a type of alloy consisting of an ordered assembly of substructures. The (3\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}3) structure formed on Cu(001) by Li deposition is found to consist of small pyramids of four Cu atoms capped by single Li atoms, the pyramids being joined by pairs of Li atoms.