Absolute coverages and hysteresis phenomena associated with the CO-induced Pt(100) hex⇄(1×1) phase transition

Temperature hysteresis in the hex⇄(1×1) phase transition in the Pt(100)–CO system has been investigated using Rutherford backscattering spectroscopy, nuclear microanalysis, work function measurements, LEED, and thermal desorption spectroscopy. The onset of the hex→(1×1) transition occurs at an average surface coverage of 0.08±0.05 monolayers while the onset of the (1×1)→hex transition occurs at 0.25±0.05 monolayers. The results are consistent with a recently proposed model for the phase transition.