Photoemission and LEED study of the Sn/Rh(111) surface--early oxidation steps and thermal stability.

We have deposited two monolayers of Sn onto Rh(111) single crystal. After the deposition, no ordered structure was revealed by low energy electron diffraction (LEED). We oxidized the obtained system in a low-pressure oxygen atmosphere at 420 K. The oxidized sample was then gradually heated to study the thermal stability of the oxide layer. We characterized the system by synchrotron radiation stimulated photoelectron spectroscopy and LEED. Valence band and core level photoelectron spectra of rhodium, tin and oxygen were used to study the oxidation of the Sn-Rh(111) surface and its behaviour upon annealing. A low stoichiometric oxide of Sn was created on the surface. The oxidation process did not continue towards creation of SnO(2) with higher oxygen dose. The annealing at 970 K caused decomposition of the surface oxide of Sn and creation of an ordered (√3 × √3)R30° Sn-Rh(111) surface alloy.