Low-energy-electron-diffraction patterns on the K-adsorbed Au(001) surface were observed as a function of K coverage at room temperature and at about 100K. It was found that the hexagonal structure of the clean surface successively changes to a 1 x 1 and a 1 x 2 structure with increasing coverage at room temperature. The 1 x 2 pattern was explained by the reconstruction of the substrate Au(001) surface. The 1 x 2-reconstructed surface was considered to adopt missing-row-type structure, which was supported by the K-coverage dependence of the work-function change.

Potassium-Induced Restructuring of the Au(001) Surface. M.Okada, H.Iwai, R.Klauser, Y.Murata: Journal of Physics - Condensed Matter, 1992, 4[44], L593-600