Diffusion properties of Cu(0 0 1)-c(2 × 2)–Pd surface alloys

Structural and diffusion properties of a Cu(0 0 1)-c(2 × 2)–Pd surface and sub-surface ordered alloys are studied by using interaction potentials obtained from the embedded-atom method. The calculated diffusion energies are in agreement with observed kinetics of the surface alloy formation and confirm stability of the underlayer alloy. Activation energy of planar diffusion of palladium at the initial stage of the alloy formation as well as the activation energy of the overlayer–underlayer diffusion of the Pd atoms are in good agreement with those obtained by the scanning tunneling microscopy and low energy electron diffraction measurements, respectively.