Scanning tunneling microscopy and kinetic Monte Carlo investigation of Cesium superlattices on Ag(111)

TL;DR

This study combines low-temperature scanning tunneling microscopy and kinetic Monte Carlo simulations to analyze cesium atom arrangements on Ag(111), revealing coverage-dependent structures and atomic-scale details of the adsorbate behavior.

Contribution

It provides new insights into cesium superlattice formation on Ag(111) through combined experimental and simulation approaches, highlighting coverage effects and atomic resolution observations.

Findings

Atomic resolution of Cs atoms is occasionally suppressed at low coverage.

Cs atoms form superstructures with hexagonal lattices at higher coverage.

Kinetic Monte Carlo simulations qualitatively reproduce observed structures.

Abstract

Cesium adsorption structures on Ag(111) were characterized in a low-temperature scanning tunneling microscopy experiment. At low coverages, atomic resolution of individual Cs atoms is occasionally suppressed in regions of an otherwise hexagonally ordered adsorbate film on terraces. Close to step edges Cs atoms appear as elongated protrusions along the step edge direction. At higher coverages, Cs superstructures with atomically resolved hexagonal lattices are observed. Kinetic Monte Carlo simulations model the observed adsorbate structures on a qualitative level.