Chemical Physics Letters, Vol.364, No.3-4, 284-289, 2002
Influence of oxygen dissolution history on reconstruction behavior of a stepped metal surface
We have observed that the reconstruction dynamics for stepped Ni(9 7 7) are influenced by the oxygen dissolution history of the crystal. Using a complementary approach incorporating both real- and reciprocal-space techniques, it is found that the upper end of the thermal range over which this stepped metal surface transforms from single to double steps increases with selvedge or sub-surface oxygen concentration. These results enhance our understanding of how adsorbate dissolution, and hence oxygen exposure history, modify energetic pathways for metallic oxidation. (C) 2002 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.