Determination of carbide structures on an Mo(110) surface by scanning tunneling microscopy and low energy electron diffraction

[[abstract]]Surface properties of transition metals can be modified considerably by forming carbide overlayers. In this study we fabricated molybdenum carbide overlayers by carburizing the Mo(110) surface with ethylene (C2H4) and successfully determined their real space structures by using low energy electron diffraction (LEED) and scanning tunneling microscopy (STM). With various carburization recipes, three carbon-terminated structures ((5)(-2) (0)(6)), (12 x 4)-2C and (4 x 4) of coverages 1/30, 1/24, and 1/16 monolayer (ML) were formed on the surface, respectively. Since the carbide overlayers were formed at high temperatures, inward diffusion of carbon atoms played a key role in structure formation.[[fileno]]2010140010013[[department]]物理