Pt(111) thin-layer electrodes on α-Al2O3(0001): Morphology and atomic structure

► Pt(111) thin films with atomically flat terraces were deposited on α-Al2O3(0001). ► Conductive and nearly single crystalline films as thin as 5 nm are reported. ► STM imaging of ((4×33)) iodine adlayers reveals (111) surface orientation.