Diffusion and desorption of submonolayer platinum deposited on the multi-faceted surface of a tungsten micro-crystal

Diffusion and desorption of platinum on the tungsten micro-crystal in the form of the W(1 1 1) oriented emitter tip has been studied using the field electron microscopy (FEM) technique. Diffusion of small dose of platinum (average thickness about 0.18 geometrical ML after spreading) on the thermally clean Wemitter tip was studied at temperatures 648–742 K. Average activation energy for diffusion Ediff was found to lie between 1.16 0.08 eVand 1.30 0.16 eV. During annealing at the diffusion temperatures Pt-induced faceting of the emitter surface was visible in the neighbourhood of the {1 1 1} pole. The layer equilibrated in the diffusion process was stable at temperatures up to 1100 K where reduction of the high voltage at a fixed emission current, characteristic of alloying of Pt withW, was detected. Submonolayer of platinum (QPt = 0.18 ML) started to desorb at tip temperature 1780 K. The measurements of average activation energy for desorption of ‘zero coverage’ Pt (0.03 ML QPt 0.06 ML) from the entire W emitter surface were carried out at temperatures 1990–2170 K and yield the value of Edes = 5.19 0.22 eV to 5.33 0.19 eV. The results are compared with data for diffusion of individual Pt atoms and small clusters and with data for adsorption of Pt atoms on a planar W(1 1 0) surface. In discussion the atomic surface structure of the substrate, modified by the strong interaction of Pt with the W micro-crystal, is also taken into account.