The BFS method for alloys is applied to the study of surface alloy for
mation. This method was previously used to examine the experimental ST
M observation of surface alloying of Au on Ni(110) for low Au coverage
s by means of a numerical simulation. In this work, we extend the stud
y to include other cases of surface alloying for immiscible as well as
miscible metals. All binary combinations of Ni, Au, Cu and Al are con
sidered and the simulation results are compared to experiment when dat
a is available. The driving mechanisms of surface alloy formation are
then discussed in terms of the BFS method and the available results.