Growth and Surface Structure of Fe Monolayers on Pt(110)

Olzat Toktarbaiuly; Nazerke S. Kydyrbay; Mergen R. Zhazitov; Yerbolat Zh. Tezekbay; Alshyn Zh. Abduvalov; Timur M. Serikov

doi:10.31489/2026N3/16-27

Authors

Olzat Toktarbaiuly Ph.D., National Laboratory Astana, Nazarbayev University, Astana, Kazakhstan
Nazerke S. Kydyrbay Master (Sci.), National Laboratory Astana, Nazarbayev University, Astana, Kazakhstan
Mergen R. Zhazitov National Laboratory Astana, Nazarbayev University, Astana, Kazakhstan
Yerbolat Zh. Tezekbay Master (Sci.), National Laboratory Astana, Nazarbayev University, Astana, Kazakhstan, Kazakhstan
Alshyn Zh. Abduvalov Ph.D., Associate Professor, School of Intelligent Systems, Astana IT University, Astana, Kazakhstan
Timur M. Serikov Ph.D., Associate Professor, Buketov Karaganda National Research University Karaganda, Kazakhstan

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.31489/2026N3/16-27

Keywords:

Fe growth, Pt(110), surface reconstruction, epitaxial growth

Abstract

The structural evolution of Fe monolayers deposited on a Pt(110) surface was investigated under ultra-high vacuum conditions using scanning tunneling microscopy, low-energy electron diffraction, and Auger electron spectroscopy. A clean Pt(110) substrate exhibiting the characteristic (1×2) missing-row reconstruction was prepared by repeated cycles of argon ion sputtering, oxidation, and high-temperature annealing. Surface cleanliness and reconstruction were confirmed by Auger electron spectroscopy and low-energy electron diffraction, while scanning tunneling microscopy imaging revealed an anisotropic terrace–step morphology with atomic rows characteristic of the reconstructed Pt(110) surface. Fe monolayers were subsequently deposited on the clean substrate at room temperature by electron-beam evaporation. Auger electron spectroscopy measurements confirmed the presence of iron on the surface, together with minor carbon and oxygen contamination. Low-energy electron diffraction patterns recorded after Fe deposition showed a noticeable modification of the substrate diffraction features, indicating partial suppression of the original Pt(110)-(1×2) reconstruction. In addition, a sixfold diffraction feature observed at higher electron energy suggests the formation of an ordered overlayer or Moiré-type superstructure arising from the lattice mismatch between Fe and Pt(110). These results provide insight into the growth behavior and interface structure of Fe monolayers on reconstructed Pt(110), and establish a basis for future studies of iron oxide formation and redox transformations on this surface.

Author's detail

Olzat Toktarbaiuly, Ph.D., National Laboratory Astana, Nazarbayev University, Astana, Kazakhstan

Toktarbaiuly, Olzat. – Ph.D., National Laboratory Astana, Nazarbayev University, Astana, Kazakhstan; ORCID iD: 0000-0003-4594-3435; olzat.toktarbaiuly@nu.edu.kz

Nazerke S. Kydyrbay, Master (Sci.), National Laboratory Astana, Nazarbayev University, Astana, Kazakhstan

Kydyrbay, Nazerke S. – Master (Sci.), National Laboratory Astana, Nazarbayev University, Astana, Kazakhstan; ORCID iD: 0009-0002-6067-7817; nazerke.kydyrbay@nu.edu.kz

Mergen R. Zhazitov, National Laboratory Astana, Nazarbayev University, Astana, Kazakhstan

Zhazitov, Mergen R. – National Laboratory Astana, Nazarbayev University, Astana, Kazakhstan; ORCID iD: 0009-0008-3494-1067; olzat.toktarbaiuly@nu.edu.kz

Yerbolat Zh. Tezekbay, Master (Sci.), National Laboratory Astana, Nazarbayev University, Astana, Kazakhstan, Kazakhstan

Tezekbay, Yerbolat Zh. - Master (Sci.), National Laboratory Astana, Nazarbayev University, Astana, Kazakhstan, Kazakhstan; ORCID iD: 0000-0001-7479-6898; yerbolat.tezekbay@nu.edu.kz

Alshyn Zh. Abduvalov, Ph.D., Associate Professor, School of Intelligent Systems, Astana IT University, Astana, Kazakhstan

Abduvalov, Alshyn Zh. - Ph.D., Associate Professor, School of Intelligent Systems, Astana IT University, Astana, Kazakhstan ORCID iD: 0000-0003-4252-8674; alshyn.abduvalov@astanait.edu.kz

Timur M. Serikov, Ph.D., Associate Professor, Buketov Karaganda National Research University Karaganda, Kazakhstan

Serikov, Timur M. – Ph.D., Associate Professor, Buketov Karaganda National Research University Karaganda, Kazakhstan; ORCID iD: 0000-0003-4302-96744; serikov-timur@mail.ru

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Growth and Surface Structure of Fe Monolayers on Pt(110)