ELECTRON-STIMULATED OXIDATION OF NI(111) AT LOW-TEMPERATURE

We have found that electron beams from 5 eV to 2 keV stimulate facile nickel oxide growth on Ni(111) at 120 K, and that oxidation occurs ext remely slowly at low temperatures when electron irradiation is absent. These results differ significantly from previous studies, discrepanci es which can be attributed to synergistic effects involving electrons. A model is proposed which quantitatively accounts for the data and yi elds relevant cross sections. These findings are of fundamental import ance to metallic oxidation and corrosion, and may find application in electron beam and STM lithography.