Schmid, M., Garhofer, A., Redinger, J., Wimmer, F., Scheiber, P., & Varga, P. (2011). Unusual Cluster Shapes and Directional Bonding of an fcc Metal: Pt/Pt(111). Physical Review Letters, 107(016102). https://doi.org/10.1103/physrevlett.107.016102
Small clusters of Pt adatoms grown on Pt(111) exhibit a preference for the formation of linear chains, which cannot be explained by simple diffusion-limited aggregation. Density functional theory calculations show that short chains are energetically favorable to more compact configurations due to strong directional bonding by dz2 -like orbitals, explaining the stability of the chains. The formation of the chains is governed by substrate distortions, leading to funneling towards the chain ends.
