Atomic-scale fabrication of novel surfaces using chemical reactions

An idea of the chemical reconstruction caused by the formation of quasi-compounds and their self-assembly is defined. New surfaces were fabricated by combining the reaction of the quasi-compounds and their self-assembly. A quasi-compound of (-Cu-O-) strings was grown in the [11̄0] direction on Ag(110) by the reaction of (-Ag-O-) strings with Cu atoms, which brought about a reversible reaction of (-Cu-O-)⇄(Cu)₆+O₂. By the reaction of (-Ag-O-) strings with CO₂, a composite structure of (-Ag-O-) and (AgCO₃) was established on the Ag(110) surface. When Cu atoms were vaporized on this composite surface, the (-Ag-O-) strings reacted selectively with Cu atoms, and (-Cu-O-) strings grew in the [11̄0] direction. Interestingly, an opposite selective reaction occurred when the composite surface was scanned with a W tip coated with Cu; that is, Cu atoms react selectively with carbonate species. These phenomena suggest that the chemical reaction and the chemical transportation reaction will make realize atomic scale surface fabrication possible. The photochemical reaction of a quasi-compound was also attained on a composite surface of (-Ag-O-) and (Ag₂N) strings on the Ag(110) surface, where the (-Ag-O-) strings were selectively erased by illumination.