Nanotemplate with holes: ultrathin alumina on Ni3Al(111).

We have determined the structure of the ultrathin (sqrt[67] x sqrt[67])R12.2 degrees aluminum oxide on Ni3Al(111) by a combination of scanning tunneling microscopy and density functional theory. In addition to other local defects, the main structural feature of the unit cell is a 0.4-nm-diameter hole reaching down to the metal substrate. Understanding the structure and metal growth on this oxide allows us to use it as a template for growing highly regular arrays of nanoparticles.