Early studies of the growth of Ni3Al(100) on a Ni(100) surface reporte
d that an alloy extending to some depth was formed, In a series of stu
dies undertaken using Low and Medium Energy Ion Scattering it has been
found that there is evidence for the formation of a surface alloy ext
ending to a depth of 2 to 3 atomic layers. A stable c-(2 x 2) structur
e was observed which, from MEIS measurements it was determined that 0.
5 ML Al was incorporated into the first three atomic layers. From LEIS
it, was possible to confirm that the Al did not form an overlayer and
that the surface atomic layer comprised 50% Al. There was less than 5
% Al observed on the second layer which is consistent with Ni3Al(100)
termination.