Structure of Au on Ag(110) studied by scanning tunneling microscopy

The epitaxial growth of Au on Ag(110) has been studied by scanning tunneling microscopy up to 8 ML. In the submonolayer range the results show that gold atoms are intermixed with the silver atoms in the top two layers. Above 1 ML a two-dimensional fingerlike growth gives rise to anisotropic three-dimensional islands of gold, which appear to be thermal equilibrium structures. Above 5 ML, the gold overlayer forms a (1 X 3) reconstruction which is manifested as double rows of atoms growing along [110BAR]. The development of this reconstruction is followed as a function of coverage.