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Our model systems are composed of approximately 4000 metal atoms cut along the 557 plane. This cut creates a stepped surface of 6x(111) surface plateaus separated by a single (100) atomic step height. The abundance of low-coordination atoms along the step edges acts as a suitable model for industrial catalysts which tend to have a high concentration of high-index sites. Experimental work has shown that such surfaces are notable for reconstructing upon adsorption\cite{}. Reconstructions have been seen for the Pt 557 surface that involve doubling of the step height and further formation of nano clusters with a triangular motif \cite{doi:10.1126/science.1182122}. To shed insight on whether this reconstruction is limited to the platinum surface, simulations of gold under similar conditions will also be examined. To properly observe these changes, our system size needs to be greater than the periodic phenomena we are examining. The large size and the long time scales needed precluded us from using quantum approaches. Thus, a forcefield describing the Metal-Metal, CO-CO, and CO-Metal interactions was parameterized and the simulations were run using OpenMD\cite{} an open-source molecular dynamics package. |
