Cleaning and tailoring the Pt3Sn(111) surface for surface experiments

The cleaning process of the bimetallic Pt3Sn(111) surface has been studied by means of low-energy electron microscopy (LEEM), microspot low-energy electron diffraction (μ-LEED), and X-ray photoemission electron microscopy (XPEEM). Different cleaning procedures, performed under ultra-high vacuum cond...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:	Surface science 2023-06, Vol.732, Article 122281
Main Authors:	Braud, N., Buß, L., Lundgren, E., Merte, L.R., Wallander, H., Krisponeit, J.-O., Locatelli, A., Mentes, T.O., Jugovac, M., Flege, J.I., Falta, J.
Format:	Article
Language:	eng
Subjects:	Alloy Cleaning Condensed Matter Physics Den kondenserade materiens fysik Fysik LEEM Natural Sciences Naturvetenskap Physical Sciences Platinum Pt3Sn PtSn Tin
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Summary:	The cleaning process of the bimetallic Pt3Sn(111) surface has been studied by means of low-energy electron microscopy (LEEM), microspot low-energy electron diffraction (μ-LEED), and X-ray photoemission electron microscopy (XPEEM). Different cleaning procedures, performed under ultra-high vacuum conditions (UHV), including sputtering with argon ions and repeated cycles of annealing up to 1500K were investigated. In this work, we show that a clean Pt3Sn(111) surface of high structural quality with a sharp and brilliant (2 × 2) bulk reconstruction in LEED as well as a perfectly smooth surface with terraces of micron size can be achieved by sputtering, annealing at very high temperatures, followed by a subsequent slow (0.09K/s) and careful cooling procedure. Additionally, we show the possibility of tailoring the Sn concentration in the topmost layers of Pt3Sn(111) as a function of annealing temperature and subsequent cooling rate. Structural changes of the surface are induced by Sn segregation combined with a surface order–disorder transition at 1340K. Moreover, two new surface reconstructions depending on the cooling rate are reported. [Display omitted] •A cleaning procedure of Pt3Sn(111) was developed by means of LEED, LEEM and XPEEM.•Annealing to 1340 K is needed to restore the bulk crystallinity of Pt3Sn(111).•The Sn concentration can be tuned in the topmost layer.•Depending on the cooling rate, three surface reconstructions can be prepared.•A surface order–disorder transition is observed at 1340 K.
ISSN:	0039-6028 1879-2758 1879-2758