Adsorption of Atoms of 3d Metals on the Surfaces of Aluminum and Magnesium Oxide Films

Abstract

The adsorption and formation of submonolayer structures of Ti, Cr, Fe, Ni, Cu on the surfaces of aluminum and magnesium oxide films formed on Mo(110) under ultrahigh vacuum conditions are studied via X-ray, ultraviolet photo-, and Auger electron spectroscopy (XPS, UVES, AES); spectroscopy of energy losses of high-resolution electrons (SELHRE); spectroscopy of the backscattering of low-energy ions (SBSLEI); infrared absorption spectroscopy (IAS); and the diffraction of slow electrons (DSE). Individual atoms and small clusters of all the investigated metals deposited on oxides acquire a positive charge, due presumably to interaction with surface defects. As the concentration of adatoms increases when the adsorption centers caused by defects are filled, charge transfer from adatoms to substrates is reduced. This is accompanied by further depolarization caused by the lateral interaction of adatoms.