Adsorption-induced step formation - art. no. 126102

Through an interplay between density functional calculations, Monte Carlo s imulations and scanning tunneling microscopy experiments, we show that an i ntermediate coverage of CO on the Pt(110) surface gives rise to a new rough equilibrium structure with more than 50% step atoms. CO is shown to bind s o strongly to low-coordinated Pt atoms that it can break Pt-Pt bonds and sp ontaneously form steps on the surface. It is argued that adsorption-induced step formation may be a general effect, in particular at high gas pressure s and temperatures.