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Enhanced nanostructure dynamics on Au(111) with adsorbed S due to Au‐S complex formation
ChemPhysChem
  • James W. Evans, Iowa State University and Ames Laboratory
  • Peter M. Spurgeon, Iowa State University
  • Da-Jiang Liu, Ames Laboratory
  • Theresa L. Windus, Iowa State University and Ames Laboratory
  • Patricia A. Thiel, Iowa State University and Ames Laboratory
Document Type
Article
Publication Version
Accepted Manuscript
Publication Date
12-28-2020
DOI
10.1002/cphc.202000884
Abstract

Chemisorbed species can enhance the fluxional dynamics of nanostructured metal surfaces which has implications for applications such as catalysis. STM studies at room temperature reveal that the presence of adsorbed sulfur (S) greatly enhances the decay rate of 2D Au islands in the vicinity of extended step edges on Au(111). This enhancement is already significant at S coverages, θ S , of a few hundredths of a monolayer (ML), and is most pronounced for 0.1‐0.3 ML where the decay rate is increased by a factor of around 30. For θ S close to saturation at about 0.6 ML, sulfur induces pitting and reconstruction of the entire surface, and Au islands are stabilized. Enhanced coarsening at lower θ S is attributed to the formation and diffusion across terraces of Au‐S complexes, particularly AuS 2 and Au 4 S 4 , with some lesser contribution from Au 3 S 4 . This picture is supported by DFT analysis of complex formation energies and diffusion barriers.

Comments

This is the peer-reviewed version of the following article: Evans, James William, Peter M. Spurgeon, Da-Jiang Liu, Theresa L. Windus, and Patricia A. Thiel. "Enhanced nanostructure dynamics on Au (111) with adsorbed S due to Au‐S complex formation." ChemPhysChem (2020), which has been published in final form at DOI: 10.1002/cphc.202000884. This article may be used for non-commercial purposes in accordance with Wiley Terms and Conditions for Self-Archiving. Posted with permission.

Copyright Owner
Wiley‐VCH GmbH
Language
en
File Format
application/pdf
Citation Information
James W. Evans, Peter M. Spurgeon, Da-Jiang Liu, Theresa L. Windus, et al.. "Enhanced nanostructure dynamics on Au(111) with adsorbed S due to Au‐S complex formation" ChemPhysChem (2020)
Available at: http://works.bepress.com/james-evans/260/