The early stages of growth of Mn deposited at room temperature on Ag(001) studied by Mn K-edge SEXAFS and Mn L2,L3-edges XAS.
The atomic structure of the Ag0.5Mn0.5 ordered surface alloy formed in the two topmost layers of the Ag substrate when 1 monolayer (ML) Mn is deposited at room temperature on Ag(001) is determined by using Mn K-edge surface extended Xray absorption fine structure (SEXAFS). The results, which are in agreement with the c(2X2) low energy electron diffraction (LEED) pattern and X-ray photoelectron diffraction (XPD), establishes that Mn adopts here an unusally large atomic volume which is consistent with a large atomic-like moment. The Mn L2L 3 edges soft X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS) study of 1ML Mn in-situ deposited confirms that Mn adopts a stable high spin state. For thicker deposits, the growth of a body-centered tetragonal lattice of pure Mn on this diffuse interface is confirmed.