Diffusion Kinetics in the <span class="aps-inline-formula"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" display="inline"><mi>Pd</mi><mi>/</mi><mi>Cu</mi><mo>(</mo><mn>001</mn><mo>)</mo></math></span> Surface Alloy

M. L. Grant; B. S. Swartzentruber; N. C. Bartelt; J. B. Hannon

doi:10.1103/PhysRevLett.86.4588

Diffusion Kinetics in the $Pd / Cu (001)$ Surface Alloy

M. L. Grant, B. S. Swartzentruber, N. C. Bartelt, and J. B. Hannon

Phys. Rev. Lett. 86, 4588 – Published 14 May 2001

Abstract

We use atom-tracking scanning tunneling microscopy to study the diffusion of Pd in the Pd/Cu(001) surface alloy as a function of temperature. By following the motion of individual Pd atoms incorporated in the surface, we show that Pd diffuses by a vacancy-exchange mechanism. We measure an activation energy for the diffusion of incorporated Pd atoms of 0.88 eV, which is in good agreement with our ab initio calculated energy of 0.94 eV.

Received 17 November 2000

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.86.4588

Authors & Affiliations

M. L. Grant¹, B. S. Swartzentruber², N. C. Bartelt³, and J. B. Hannon¹

¹Department of Physics, Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15213-3890
²Sandia National Laboratories, Albuquerque, New Mexico 87185
³Sandia National Laboratories, Livermore, California 94551