Molecular dynamics was used to study Au2, Cu2 and AuCu dimer diffusion on the Au(110)(1x2) missing-row reconstructed surface. For all these dimers, two different diffusion mechanisms were found: concerted jump and leap-frog. The energy barriers of such mechanisms were investigated and compared with the dimers dissociation barriers. Each of the three dimers exhibited a qualitatively different behavior.

Dimers Diffusion on (110) (1x2) Metal Surfaces. Montalenti, F., Ferrando, R.: Surface Science, 1999, 432[1-2], 27-36