X-ray photoelectron diffraction as a tool for clean surface crystallography studies: the Pt(110)(2 × 1) reconstruction

For the first time, a clean metal surface reconstruction, viz. Pt(110)(2 × 1), is investigated using X-ray photoelectron diffraction (XPD). Comparison of the obtained experimental XPD azimuthal and polar curves with quasidynamical calculations reveals that the Pt(110)(2 × 1) reconstruction is, as expected, of the “missing row model” type and, furthermore, presents a first layer contraction estimated to be around 30%. The result is compared with previous LEED results.