Adsorbate-induced disorder-to-order surface reconstruction: iodine on Pd(111) revisited by EC-STM

Earlier work. based upon ex situ surface analytical measurements. found tha t a disordered Pd(111) surface can be spontaneously reordered upon exposure , at ambient conditions, to a dilute aqueous solution of iodide. This pheno menon has been re-examined by in situ atom-resolved scanning tunneling micr oscopy. The results from the present study, while corroborating the chemiso rption-induced disorder-to-order surface reconstruction observed earlier. i ndicate that the kinetics of the structural rearrangements may not be as ra pid as initially thought. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science BN. All rights reserved .