Observation of mass transport on Au(110)-(1 × 2) reconstructed surfaces using scanning tunneling microscopy

Abstract

Observations of the temporal evolution of antiphase boundaries on Au(110)-(1 × 2) surfaces using scanning tunneling microscopy (STM) are discussed. Our results support the suggestion that mass transport via kink sites is important for the nucleation and growth of the (1 × 2) phase. Cross-channel motion of atoms in the [001] direction is also observed, but less frequently, resulting in the collapse of domain wall structures. We propose that atomic rows of the superstructure-forming antiphase domain walls perpendicular to the [11̄0] direction move in a concerted fashion. © 1991.