Superstructures of Pb monolayers electrochemically deposited on Ag(111)

Abstract

We report the in situ scanning tunneling microscopy observation of incommensurate superstructures at electrochemically deposited lead monolayers on silver (111). The superstructure was always observed at substrate potentials within the range of a full lead monolayer. This superstructure has moir\'e spot distances between 1.5 and 1.8 nm, and is rotated between 24\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{} and 29\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{} against the lead layer. It is interpreted as a moir\'e pattern produced by rotation of a compressed Pb adlayer with regard to the topmost silver layer.