G. Scragg et al., A STRUCTURAL STUDY OF THE AL(111) (ROOT-3X-ROOT-3)R30-DEGREES-RB PHASE AT DIFFERENT TEMPERATURES, Journal of physics. Condensed matter, 6(10), 1994, pp. 1869-1880
Normal-incidence standing x-ray wavefield (NISXW) measurements have be
en made of the local adsorption site of Rb on Al(111) surfaces, partic
ularly in an ordered (square-root 3 x square-root 3)R30-degrees phase,
as a function of the sample temperature during adsorption or subseque
nt annealing. The results confirm the atop-site occupation for low-tem
perature (around 150 K) preparation, but show that room-temperature pr
eparation leads to a structure having Rb atoms in surface substitution
al sites. The overall structural situation is therefore essentially th
e same as that found previously by low-energy electron diffraction LEE
D for the Al(111)(square-root 3 x square-root 3)R30-degrees phases. Ho
wever, experiments involving annealing of the low-temperature prepared
surface to room temperature indicate that only a small part of the su
rface easily transforms to the higher-temperature form, and indeed the
re is evidence that even in room-temperature preparations some fractio
n of the adsorbed atoms may remain in atop sites. The apparent conflic
t of this result with that from recent photoemission core-level shift
and LEED data is discussed.