A structural analysis of a clean (100) Cu surface, using low-energy electron diffraction techniques, revealed an unexpected in-plane lattice contraction of about 1%; as compared with the bulk lattice parameter. That is, there was a surface reconstruction which was associated with tensile stress in the surface. This was relevant to the epitaxial growth of other metals on Cu(100). A similar contraction was noted in the case of the metastable 1 x 1 phase of the (100) Pt surface; thus suggesting that in-plane lattice reconstruction was more common that was usually supposed.

S.Müller, A.Kinne, M.Kottcke, R.Metzler, P.Bayer, L.Hammer, K.Heinz: Physical Review Letters, 1995, 75[15], 2959-62