When surface dynamics fakes symmetry: Oxygen on Rh(100) revisited

Hammer L, Kißlinger T, Wagner M, Neder R, Schmid M, Diebold U, Schneider MA (2026)

Publication Type: Journal article

Publication year: 2026

Journal

Book Volume: 8

Article Number: 023296

Journal Issue: 2

DOI: 10.1103/5wmb-kmjb

Abstract

Heating a long-range ordered adsorbate phase beyond its stability temperature does not necessarily result in a disordered phase; it can also break up into heavily fluctuating ordered domains. Temporal and/or spatial averaging over these fluctuations may give the impression of both a wrong periodicity and false symmetry elements such as nonexisting glide planes or rotational axes of incorrect order. This can happen in real space and reciprocal space, and also below liquid-nitrogen temperature, so that the true nature of the phase might remain undetected. We demonstrate this scenario at the catalytically active Rh(100) surface covered by 12 monolayer of oxygen, using quantitative low-energy electron diffraction, variable-temperature scanning tunneling microscopy, and density functional theory. Using the example of CO adsorption, we show that local symmetry can have a decisive influence on the binding energy and thus the chemical reactivity.

Authors with CRIS profile

Involved external institutions

Technische Universität Wien / Vienna University of Technology Austria (AT)

How to cite

APA:

Hammer, L., Kißlinger, T., Wagner, M., Neder, R., Schmid, M., Diebold, U., & Schneider, M.A. (2026). When surface dynamics fakes symmetry: Oxygen on Rh(100) revisited. Physical Review Research, 8(2). https://doi.org/10.1103/5wmb-kmjb

MLA:

Hammer, Lutz, et al. "When surface dynamics fakes symmetry: Oxygen on Rh(100) revisited." Physical Review Research 8.2 (2026).

BibTeX: Download