Diffusion kinetics in the Pd/Cu(001) surface alloy

We use atom-tracking scanning tunneling microscopy to study the diffusion of Pd in the Pd/Cu(001) surface alloy as a function of temperature. By following the motion of individual Pd atoms incorporated in the surface, we show that Pd diffuses by a vacancy-exchange mechanism. We measure an activation energy for the diffusion of incorporated Pd atoms of 0.88 eV. which is in good agreement with our ab initio calculated energy of 0.94 eV.