A new method was proposed for the determination of the activation energies for surface diffusion on large monocrystals. The activation energy for the surface diffusion of 1-dimensional or 2-dimensional islands, and the energy which was required in order to remove an adatom from an adsorbate island, were determined. In the case of Pt, this energy was equal to 1.1eV. The activation energy for the diffusion of Pt trimers was equal to 0.80eV, while that for the diffusion of 4-atom groups was 1.10eV. The results were in good agreement with published data which had been obtained by means of field-ion microscopy.

J.Kolaczkiewicz, E.Bauer: Surface Science, 1991, 256[1-2], 87-93