Structure and stress of Re(1121); chiral terraces at a racemic surface

• Published in: Physical chemistry chemical physics : PCCP Vol. 15; no. 48; pp. 20823 - 20829
• Main Authors: ETMAN, H. A, HELD, G, JENKINS, S. J, BENNETT, R. A
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Cambridge Royal Society of Chemistry 28.12.2013
• Subjects: Chemistry; Density; Exact sciences and technology; General and physical chemistry; Lead (metal); Mathematical analysis; Morphology; Scanning tunneling microscopy; Stresses; Surface chemistry; Surface physical chemistry; Terraces; Oxygen; Electron diffraction; Surface structure; Scanning tunneling microscopy; Racemic; Relaxation; Adsorption; Energy; Clean surface; Chirality; Morphology; Density functional method; Calculation; Structure; Bunching
• ISSN: 1463-9076; 1463-9084
• DOI: 10.1039/c3cp53165a

The surface structure and morphology of the clean Re(1121) surface has been investigated through combined low energy electron diffraction intensity analysis of data taken at multiple angles of incidence, scanning tunneling microscopy, and first-principles density functional calculations. The results show how this globally racemic surface terminates in two chirally distinct terraces, which show large-scale out-of-plane atomic relaxations and in-plane lateral movement of the uppermost atoms. We further identify and discuss the initial stages of step bunching upon adsorption of oxygen that leads ultimately to the large-scale faceting of the surface. Finally, we present calculations of surface stress and the response to applied surface strain, which suggest routes to the exertion of control over the expression of chirality at the surface.