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arXiv · 1003.3834

Temperature dependence of surface stress across an order-disorder transition: p(1x2)O/W(110)

N. Stojic·T. O. Mentes·N. Binggeli·M. A. Nino·A. Locatelli·E. Bauer
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Abstract

Strain relaxations of a p(1x2) ordered oxygen layer on W(110) are measured as a function of temperature across the disordering transition using low-energy electron diffraction. The measured strains approach values of 0.027 in the [1-10] and -0.053 in the [001] direction. On the basis of the measured strain relaxations, we give quantitative information on temperature-dependent surface stress using the results of ab initio calculations. From the surface formation energy for different strains, determined by first-principles calculations, we estimate that surface stress changes from -1.1 for the ordered phase to -0.2N/m for the disordered one along [1-10], and from 5.1 to 3.4 N/m along [001]. Moreover, our observation that the strains scale inversely with domain size confirms that the strain relaxation takes place at the domain boundaries.

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N. Stojic, T. O. Mentes, N. Binggeli, M. A. Nino, A. Locatelli, E. Bauer. 2010-03-19. Temperature dependence of surface stress across an order-disorder transition: p(1x2)O/W(110). https://doi.org/10.1103/physrevb.81.115437

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