Interplay between theory and experiment in the quest for silica with reduced dimensionality grown on a Mo(1Â 1Â 2) surface

Phase diagram of ordered low-dimensional silica structures formed on a Mo(1 1 2) surface at different silicon coverage and oxygen pressures is derived from density functional theory. Infrared reflection absorption spectroscopy and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy confirm existence of a new phase predicted for two-dimensional silica film at elevated oxygen pressures.