Formation of one-dimensional molybdenum oxide on Mo(1 1 2)

The atomic structure of a reconstructed Mo(1 1 2)–O(2 × 3) surface has been revisited using photoelectron spectroscopy with synchrotron radiation, scanning tunneling microscopy, infrared reflection absorption spectroscopy and density functional theory. In contrast to previous models, the results are rationalized in terms of the formation of one-dimensional, MoO terminated molybdenum oxide involving corner sharing distorted [MoO6] octahedra on the (1 × 3) reconstructed Mo(1 1 2) surface.