Reconstructed Cd(0001) Surface Induced by Adsorption of Triphenyl Bismuth

Largish molecules on metal surfaces may act as not only the building blocks of 2D self-assemblies, but also as the template to reshape the metal surfaces. Here, we report the molecular adsorption-induced formation of the periodic nanostripe arrays of substrate atoms through long-range mass transport. When adsorbed on the close-packed Cd(0001) surface, the triphenyl bismuth (TPB) molecules form a 2D self-assembly with 4 x root 13 reconstruction. Simultaneously, periodic nanostripe arrays of Cd atoms appear on the substrate terraces. High-resolution scanning tunneling microscopy (STM) images indicate that the Cd nanostrips are built from the parallel segments of Cd atomic chains with 2 x 2 reconstruction. In the mixed phase, the Cd atomic chains exhibit only high-order commensuration when situated between two molecular domains. The massive structural rearrangement of the Cd(0001) surface can be attributed to a strong molecule-substrate interaction.

Automated summary

Large molecules on metal surfaces can act as building blocks and templates to reshape the metal surfaces. In this study, the adsorption of triphenyl bismuth (TPB) molecules on the Cd(0001) surface induced the formation of periodic nanostripe arrays of Cd atoms. The Cd nanostrips were found to be composed of parallel segments of Cd atomic chains with 2 x 2 reconstruction. The rearrangement of the Cd(0001) surface can be attributed to the strong molecule-substrate interaction.