Step dynamics on Ag(111) and Cu(100) surfaces

Investigations of the morphology of copper surfaces by scanning tunneling microscopy

“…One advantage of this material is that, in contrast to silicon, the mobility at room temperature is high enough to insure that the surface is in thermal equilibrium at room temperature, avoiding delicate measurements at high temperature to access equilibrium quantities. The Cu(ll,l,l) and Cu (810) This is higher than the value of about 800 K which has been inferred from helium diffraction experiments [15], but similar to the results of recent STM studies [16,17]. Ekink (810) Steps also play a major role in the growth of crystals.…”

Temperature-controlled metal/ligand stoichiometric ratio in Ag-TCNE coordination networks

“…The activation barrier for atom detachment from a step in Ag(111) has been estimated to be 0.71 eV, 17 which makes diffusion along step edges the dominant mechanism explaining step fluctuations on this surface, even at room temperature. 18,19 Because of the high energy cost associated with step-detachment, the equilibrium concentration of Ag adatoms on the terraces, θ ad = exp(−E a /kT), where E a is the energy required to bring an atom from a kink onto a terrace, is expected to be very low (of the order of 10 −12 per substrate atom at 300 K). This suggests that the abundant ejection of Ag adatoms is strictly related to the presence of TCNE molecules.…”

Initial stages of metal encapsulation during epitaxial growth studied by STM: Rh/Ag(100)

“…Higher-resolution images of the clean surface reveal that the step edges have a ''frizzy'' appearance, in good agreement with earlier observations on similar surfaces. 19 As can be seen in Fig. 1͑b͒, deposition of 0.02 ML of Rh creates small white islands, and pointlike defects ͑see inset͒.…”

“…19 In this context it should be kept in mind that at room temperature the Ag͑100͒ surface is by no means static but exhibits a significant amount of mobility. 20 This leads to the following scenario for Rh growth: The starting Ag surface, at room temperature, is covered by a dilute layer of Ag adatoms on extended flat terraces: e.g., there exists some equilibrium two-dimensional ͑2D͒ gas of Ag.…”