Two-stage ordering processes under annealing of Sr submonolayers on Mo(1 1 2)

Using LEED as technique of investigation, the evolution of geometrical order in the system Sr/Mo(1 1 2) was studied after annealing at temperatures between 100 and 900 K. Two stages of ordering were found for the chain-like structures p(8 × 1) and p(5 × 1). Partial ordering occurred already at the base adsorption temperature (90 K) with slight improvement after annealing to temperatures around 200 K. The full equilibration of the layers, however, was found to happen only at high annealing temperatures (ranging between 500 and 600 K, depending on coverage). Correlating these data with the highly anisotropic diffusivity known for Sr overlayers on Mo(1 1 2), we assume that the low-temperature ordering sets in via a kink-like diffusion of adsorbate chains essentially along the substrate troughs, whereas in the high-temperature step, diffusion across the troughs is most important.