Small Pt nanoparticles on the TiO2 (110)–(1 × 2) surface

Scanning tunnelling microscopy (STM) has been used to study the initial stages of Pt deposition on the TiO2 (110)–(1 × 2) surface. Experimental STM images recorded for Pt coverage of 0.1 and 0.4 ML, suggest a Volmer-Weber growth. For low coverage and RT deposition, small clusters homogeneously distributed on the surface terraces are observed. However, after annealing at 825 K, material agglomeration, with nucleation mainly at the cross-links, is observed as a consequence of Pt diffusion on the surface. Finally, the structure of small clusters has been determined, in good agreement with previous theoretical calculations.