Physical origin of exchange diffusion on fcc(100) metal surfaces

Byung Deok Yu, Matthias Scheffler

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

139 Scopus citations

Abstract

For the (100) surfaces of Pt and Ir, experiments revealed that self-diffusion proceeds by atomic exchange rather than hopping. Using density-functional theory we find that the physical origin of this phenomenon is different from that for Al, where it had been explained as being activated by the formation of directional bonds at the transition state. We predict that exchange diffusion should also occur on Au(100) and show that the tensile surface stress plays a crucial role for the exchange diffusion. This explains why the exchange process is favorable for the late (Formula presented), but not for (Formula presented) and (Formula presented) fcc(100) metal surfaces.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)R15569-R15572
JournalPhysical Review B - Condensed Matter and Materials Physics
Volume56
Issue number24
DOIs
StatePublished - 1997

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