Preparation of Cu(110)-Fe alloys and their reactivity towards oxygen

Abstract

Cu(110)-Fe alloys are prepared by thermal decomposition of Fe(CO)5 at 600 K. Iron facets grow under an inclination angle of 35.2° with the surface exposing a (110) plane. The majority of iron is distributed below the surface layer and there is hardly any enrichment of copper at the surface layer. Oxygen adsorption is not noticably accelerated compared to that on Cu(110). At temperatures below 400 K even a decrease in sticking coefficient is noticed. The total oxygen uptake increases with temperature and iron content.