On the surface properties of lead structures on Au (111), an atom dynamic approach

M. M. MARISCAL; W. SCHMICKLER

JOURNAL OF ELECTROANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY

Elsevier

Año: 2005 vol. 582 p. 64 - 64

0022-0728

he scanning tunneling microscope (STM), operating in an electrochemical environment, can be used to produce structures onmetal electrodes. In this work, we simulate the generation of lead clusters on a Au(1 1 1) surface. By loading the tip of the STM withlead atoms, and subsequently bringing the tip in contact with the gold surface, large clusters of lead are readily produced. However,these clusters are not stable at potentials positive of the deposition potential for bulk lead. It is argued that the instability of theseclusters is due to the fact that lead and gold do not form a stable alloy. There are, however, some indications that surface alloyingmay occur.