Atomic structure of silver chloride formed on Ag(111) surface upon low temperature chlorination

TL;DR

This study used atomic resolution STM to reveal the atomic structure of silver chloride islands formed on Ag(111) surfaces during low-temperature chlorination, providing new insights into their growth mechanism.

Contribution

First atomic resolution images of AgCl formed on Ag(111) surfaces, elucidating their structure and growth behavior at the atomic level.

Findings

AgCl islands are 30-60 Å in diameter on Ag(111)

The top surface of islands is AgCl(111) with bulk-like interatomic distances

Chloride lattice is aligned with the substrate without rotation

Abstract

The structure of AgCl formed in the course of chlorine adsorption on Ag(111) surface was studied by STM. For the first time atomic resolution STM images of silver chloride were obtained. The silver chloride was detected as small (30-60 A in diameter) islands located on the atomic terraces. The upper plane of the islands was found to be AgCl(111) with interatomic distance close to the bulk value. The chloride surface lattice was not rotated with respect to the substrate. A possible mechanism of AgCl growth on Ag(111) is discussed.