Surface diffusion of Co on Ni(111) studied by diffraction of optical second-harmonic generation off a monolayer grating

Abstract

Diffraction of optical second-harmonic generation from a monolayer grating created by laser desorption of adsorbates can be used to study surface diffusion of molecules on substrates. Application of this novel technique to CO on Ni(111) yields a diffusion activation energy of 6.9 kcal/mol and a preexponential factor of 1.2 × 10-5 cm2 s-1. © 1988 The American Physical Society.