A new interpretation of the √7×√7 R19.1° structure for P adsorbed on a Ni(111) surface

We have studied P adsorption on Ni(111), a system which shows complex adsorbate structures. We determined the phase diagram of the surface P adsorbed on Ni(111). At low coverage, amorphous P was observed. At temperatures between 373 and 673 K and coverages above 0.1 monolayer, we found a $$ structure, but above 673 K, other complex structures were created. These structures seemed to correlate with each other and we reinterpret a $$ structure of P adsorbed on Ni(111) based on the similarities of these surface structures. The new rectangular structure for the $$ is discussed in relation to the Ni₂P local structure.