Kinetics of the Growth of Copper Clusters on the Alumina (0001) Surface: Influence of Surface Structure

摘要

The kinetics of the growth of copper clusters on the alumina (0001) surface was studied as a function of surface structure, using EXAFS at the Cu K edge. Equivalent cu coverages ranging from 0.5 to 4 equivalent monolayers were deposited in situ, at room temperature, on alumina (0001) surfaces exhibiting the (1x1) or the (sq root 31 x sq root 31)R9 deg reconstructed structure. The evolution of mean cluster size with deposition time was followed from the mean Cu coordination number in the clusters deduced from the EXAFS data. The increase of the mean cluster radius with deposition time is characteristic of a coalescence mechanism on both surfaces. The growth is quicker on the reconstructed surface, likely due to different surface diffusion properties of both surfaces.