The growth of ultrathin platinum films on a rutile ${\mathrm{TiO}}_2$(110) surface has been studied using low-energy ion scattering and x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. In the temperature range between 160 and 420 K, Pt grows in three-dimensional islands on the ${\mathrm{TiO}}_2$ surface with the size of the islands increasing with increasing surface temperature and without indication of an interface reaction. Evaporation of Pt in the presence of CO leads to a significantly higher degree of wetting. This behavior is attributed to a chemisorption-induced surfactant effect.

• Received 10 August 1994

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevB.51.2427