Chiral reconstruction of Cu(110) after adsorption of fumaric acid

The interaction of fumaric acid with the Cu(110) has been investigated in UHV by means of low-energy electron diffraction (LEED), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), reflection absorption infrared spectroscopy (RAIRS), temperature programmed desorption (TPD), scanning tunneling microscopy (STM) and density functional theory (DFT). Different long-range ordered structures appear in LEED after gently annealing. It is found that rows consisting of metal adatoms are strung along the < 1, ± 1 > directions, thus breaking locally the mirror symmetry of the surface. Models proposed by DFT are in good agreement with the STM appearance.