Preferential sub-surface occupation of atomic hydrogen on Cu(1 1 1)

Luo, M.F., MacLaren, D.A. , Shuttleworth, I.G. and Allison, W. (2003) Preferential sub-surface occupation of atomic hydrogen on Cu(1 1 1). Chemical Physics Letters, 381(5-6), pp. 654-659. (doi: 10.1016/j.cplett.2003.09.154)

Abstract

We demonstrate sub-surface absorption of hydrogen on Cu(1 1 1) to be energetically favoured, even in the limit of zero coverage and without surface reconstruction. Helium atom scattering measurements indicate desorption of hydrogen from the surface at a lower temperature, than that required to remove all absorbed hydrogen. The stablest bonding site, which is invisible to the helium beam, is therefore not a surface site. Our experimental observations of the behaviour of Cu(1 1 1) differ from previous calculations and contrast with other systems, where population of subsurface sites generally occurs only after population of surface states, or after significant surface reconstruction.

• Item Type: Articles
• Status: Published
• Refereed: Yes
• Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: MacLaren, Professor Donald
• Authors: Luo, M.F., MacLaren, D.A., Shuttleworth, I.G., and Allison, W.
• Subjects: Q Science > QC Physics
• College/School: College of Science and Engineering > School of Physics and Astronomy; University Centres > Glasgow Materials Research Initiative
• Journal Name: Chemical Physics Letters
• Publisher: Elsevier BV
• ISSN: 0009-2614
• ISSN (Online): 1873-4448
• Published Online: 04 November 2003