TY - JOUR
T1 - Evolution of far-from-equilibrium nanostructures on Ag(100) surfaces
T2 - Protrusions and indentations at extended step edges
AU - Cadilhe, A.
AU - Stoldt, C.
AU - Jenks, C.
AU - Thiel, P.
AU - Evans, J.
PY - 2000
Y1 - 2000
N2 - Scanning tunneling microscopy is used to monitor the formation and relaxation of nanoprotrusions and nanoindentations at extended step edges following submonolayer deposition of Ag on Ag(100). Deposition of up to about 1/4 ML Ag produces isolated two-dimensional (2D) Ag clusters, which subsequently diffuse, collide, and coalesce with extended step edges, thus forming protrusions. Deposition of larger submonolayer amounts of Ag causes existing step edges to advance across terraces, incorporating 2D islands. The resulting irregular step structure rapidly straightens after terminating deposition, except for a few larger indentations. Relaxation of these far-from-equilibrium step-edge nanoconfigurations is monitored to determine rates for restructuring versus local geometry and feature size. This behavior is analyzed utilizing kinetic Monte Carlo simulations of an atomistic lattice-gas model for relaxation of step-edge nanostructures. In this model, mass transport is mediated by diffusion along the step edge (i.e., “periphery diffusion”). The model consistently fits observed behavior, and allows a detailed characterization of the relaxation process, including assessment of key activation energies.
AB - Scanning tunneling microscopy is used to monitor the formation and relaxation of nanoprotrusions and nanoindentations at extended step edges following submonolayer deposition of Ag on Ag(100). Deposition of up to about 1/4 ML Ag produces isolated two-dimensional (2D) Ag clusters, which subsequently diffuse, collide, and coalesce with extended step edges, thus forming protrusions. Deposition of larger submonolayer amounts of Ag causes existing step edges to advance across terraces, incorporating 2D islands. The resulting irregular step structure rapidly straightens after terminating deposition, except for a few larger indentations. Relaxation of these far-from-equilibrium step-edge nanoconfigurations is monitored to determine rates for restructuring versus local geometry and feature size. This behavior is analyzed utilizing kinetic Monte Carlo simulations of an atomistic lattice-gas model for relaxation of step-edge nanostructures. In this model, mass transport is mediated by diffusion along the step edge (i.e., “periphery diffusion”). The model consistently fits observed behavior, and allows a detailed characterization of the relaxation process, including assessment of key activation energies.
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=0000253850&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1103/PhysRevB.61.4910
DO - 10.1103/PhysRevB.61.4910
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:0000253850
SN - 1098-0121
VL - 61
SP - 4910
EP - 4925
JO - Physical Review B - Condensed Matter and Materials Physics
JF - Physical Review B - Condensed Matter and Materials Physics
IS - 7
ER -