Low-coverage condensation of K on TiO2(110) 1×1

Abstract: The adsorption site of K on TiO2(110) 1×1 has been investigated at low coverage (<0.15ML, where 1 monolayer corresponds to the number of surface unit cells). A combination of surface extended X-ray absorption fine structure (SEXAFS), scanning tunneling microscopy (STM), and non-contact atomic force microscopy (NC-AFM) was used for this purpose. SEXAFS identifies a threefold O hollow site in which K bonds to two bridging O atoms and one in-plane O atom at K–O bond distances of 2.49±0.12Å and 2.73±0.07Å. STM and NC-AFM images evidence a condensation of K atoms on either side of the bridging O row. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]