Carbon segregation to single crystal surfaces of Pt, Pd and Co

Results are reported on the surface segregation behaviour of carbon from dilute solid solutions in Pt, Pd and Co. With Pt(100) no preferential surface segregation was observed; this is similar to previous results for Pt(111). For Pd(lOO), Pd(111) and Co(0001) segregation was observed with evidence for a surface phase transition of the type previously reported for Ni(111). These observations suggest that the strong carbon-carbon interactions within a graphite monolayer are of more importance in producing the transition than a good epitaxial fit to the substrate. A comparison of the kinetics of carbon segregation to Co(0001) with those predicted by a simple diffusion model suggest that surface processes such as nucleation or lateral diffusion may play important roles.