Atomically resolved scanning tunneling microscopy on Cu/Pb(111) reveals a new growth mode, contrary to the Volmer-Weber mode expected from the significantly lower surface energy of Pb. (111)oriented Cu islands with a thickness of 3-11 layers are immersed in the Pb substrate and covered by a single close-packed Pb layer. This subsurface growth mode occurring at room temperature can be explained by simple thermodynamic considerations.
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