Subsurface condensation of potassium for K/graphite

Photoemission from quantum well states show that K films can be grown nearly layer by atomic layer on a cooled graphite substrate. The data also indicate that this growth is preceded by the formation of one intercalated monolayer of K metal. The successive steps of intercalation and adsorption means that the properties are more intricate than suggested by previous results, which have established K/graphite as a prototype metal/semimetal adsorption system.