Temperature-dependent morphologies of gold surfaces

Abstract

Periodic surface profiles on Au{111} and Au{100} single crystals annealed at 1023 K under ultra-high vacuum conditions were studied ex situ by scanning tunneling microscopy (STM). The shapes exhibited several facets in each case separated from each other by sharp edges. Aside from the main {111} and {100} facets, extra facets at 3.7° and 11.7° for Au{111}〈112〉 and at 8.0° for Au{100}〈110〉 were observed. These orientations seem to represent stable surface phases, in the sense of "magic" orientations due to the influence of surface reconstruction. © 1992.