Thermodynamically Controlled Self-Assembly of Two-Dimensional Oxide Nanostructures.

he spontaneous formation and subsequent aggregation of planar V 6O 12clusters on a Rh(111) surface after deposition of V atoms at submonolayer coveragesunder appropriate temperature and sufficiently oxidizing conditions is monitored bySTM. The stoichiometry and the geometry of the obtained starlike structures are char-acterized by ab initio DFT calculations