Diffusion of small cluster Pt6 on Pt(111) surface and Cu6 on Cu(111) were studied. The atomic interaction was modelled by the semi-empirical potential. The results showed that the diffusion processes in the two systems were far different. For example, on Pt(111) surface, the hopping of single atom and the shearing of two atoms of hexamer only occurred on the adatom(s) adsorbed at B-step, while on Cu(111) surface they could appear on the adatom(s) either at A-step or B-step. To the concerted translation of the parallelogram hexamer, the anisotropy in the diffusion path was observed in the two systems, the mechanisms and then the preferential paths, however, were completely different.

Diffusions of Small Clusters on Pt(111) and Cu(111) Surfaces. Jiang, J., Zhang, P., Xie, Y., Ning, X., Zhuang, M., Li, Y., Zhuang, J.: Applied Surface Science, 2008, 254[18], 5822-6