Epitaxial growth of MnO nanoparticles on Pt(111) by reactive deposition of Mn2(CO)10

Mn2(CO)10 has been used as a source for depositing manganese oxide on Pt(111) at 200°C in the presence of water, in ultrahigh vacuum (UHV). X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) data of Mn2p binding energy values and satellite structure demonstrate that the species deposited is MnO. Angle-scanned X-ray photoelectron diffraction (XPD) data show that MnO grows epitaxially in a single domain. Polar XPD scans show features that are compatible with a Volmer–Weber-type three-dimensional growth, as further confirmed by fitting the angle-scanned XPS data. The reported experimental evidence supports a deposition mechanism based on lateral enlargement of 3D nanoclusters of MnO, in the range of exposures investigated.