Surface patterning of silver using an electron- or photon-assisted oxidation reaction.

We have investigated a recently developed method of patterning Ag surfaces. The method uses an electron beam to irradiate Ag surfaces during NO(2) dosing at 300 K and leads to sharp oxide patterns on otherwise metallic surfaces. Investigations were performed on an Ag(111) single crystal and on an Ag foil with LEEM (low-energy electron microscopy), LEED (low-energy electron diffraction), MEM (mirror electron microscopy), and XPEEM (X-ray photo-emission electron microscopy).