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M. Schmid, G. Kresse, A. Buchsbaum, E. Napetschnig, S. Gritschneder, M. Reichling, P. Varga:
"Nanotemplate with Holes: Ultrathin Alumina on Ni₃Al(111)";
Physical Review Letters, 99 (2007), 1961041 - 1961044.

We have determined the structure of the ultrathin (sqrt67 x sqrt67)R12.2° aluminum oxide on Ni3Al(111) by a combination of scanning tunneling microscopy and density functional theory. In addition to other local defects, the main structural feature of the unit cell is a 0.4-nm-diameter hole reaching down to the metal substrate. Understanding the structure and metal growth on this oxide allows us to use it as a template for growing highly regular arrays of nanoparticles.

Corresponding author: M. Schmid (schmid).