Using the Wigner-Ibach Surmise to Analyze Terrace-Width Distributions: History, User's Guide, and Advances

A history is given of the applications of the simple expression generalized from the surmise by Wigner and also by Ibach to extract the strength of the interaction between steps on a vicinal surface, via the terrace width distribution (TWD). A concise guide for use with experiments and a summary of some recent extensions are provided.Comment: 11 pages, 4 figures, reformatted (with revtex) version of refereed paper for special issue of Applied Physics A entitled "From Surface Science to Device Physics", in honor of the retirements of Prof. H. Ibach and Prof. H. L\"ut

Step dynamics and step–step interactions on the chiral Cu(5 8 90) surface

In this paper we discuss particular aspects of the high-Miller-index Cu(5 8 90) surface. We focus on the mobility of steps and energetic step-step interactions and the possible influence of kink-kink interactions on the step structure. One important goal of this paper is to give a detailed insight into the characteristics of a typical real high-Miller-index surface, such surfaces are frequently used as substrates in enantioselective reactions because of their chiral surface properties. (C) 2004 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved

STM studies on the island dynamics on Au(100) in sulfuric acid

We have studied the dynamics of monolayer Au islands on a Au(100) electrode in sulfuric acid using electrochemical scanning tunnelling microscopy. We present quantitative studies of the equilibrium shape of Au islands on Au(100) electrodes and of the thermal fluctuations around the equilibrium shape. As was recently demonstrated for islands on metal surfaces under ultra-high vacuum (UHV), step and Link energies may be determined. Furthermore, we present data on the decay of Au islands on Au(100) electrodes due to Ostwald ripening and due to the reformation of the potential-induced reconstruction on the gold electrode. In both cases we observe that different dominant mass transport processes control the island decay. In the case of island decay during potential-induced reformation of the reconstruction, we find furthermore evidence for rapid island decay processes as were recently reported for metal surfaces in UHV studies

Step and island dynamics on Cu(111), Ag (111) and Au(100) electrodes in electrolyte

This paper deals first with recent experimental data on equilibrium step flucuations on metal electrodes in contact with an electrolyte. The dynamics of steps on Cu(1 1 1) and Ag(1 1 1) electrodes is Studied as a function of the electrode potential and temperature. From the Arrhenius-like temperature dependence of the fluctuations we deduce pre-exponential factors and activation energies for surface diffusion and dissolution processes. In the second part of the paper we discuss new results on island dynamics on Au(1 0 0) electrodes. From the time dependence of the island edge fluctuations and from the islands equilibrium shape we determine kink and step energies. (C) 2002 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved