H. Giordano et B. Aufray, ON A KINETIC APPROACH TO THE STUDY OF SUPERFICIAL EQUILIBRIUM SEGREGATION IN THE SB-CU(111) SYSTEM, Surface science, 309, 1994, pp. 816-820
Following a previous study performed in a system presenting a tendency
to phase separation (Ag-Cu) we show here, to what extent one can also
derive equilibrium segregation isotherms from dissolution and segrega
tion kinetics measurements in the case of a system presenting a tenden
cy to ordering at low temperature (Sb-Cu). The kinetics are recorded b
y AES and the superficial superstructures determined from LEED pattern
s. The dissolution kinetics of one monolayer of Sb/Cu(111) at 673 K pr
esents a very surprising shape. The dissolution of Sb in the bulk is v
ery fast at the beginning of the annealing but, contrary to the Ag/Cu
case, stops for a given superficial concentration. No more dissolution
is then observed even after a very long time of annealing. The LEED d
iffraction pattern observed is characteristic of a p(square-root 3)R30
-degrees. The segregation kinetics of Sb, recorded at the same tempera
ture but on the surface of a Cu(Sb)(111) solid solution (0.45 at%), re
veals an increase of the superficial Sb concentration up to a constant
value close to that obtained after dissolution kinetics. The superstr
ucture observed is again p(square-root 3 x square-root 3)R30-degrees.
These results are interpreted in terms of local equilibrium between th
e surface and the selvedge and compared to those obtained for the Ag-C
u system.