Surfactant-Induced Layer-by-Layer Growth of Ag on Ag(111): Origins and Side Effects

J. Vrijmoeth; H. A. van der Vegt; J. A. Meyer; E. Vlieg; R. J. Behm

doi:10.1103/PhysRevLett.72.3843

Surfactant-Induced Layer-by-Layer Growth of Ag on Ag(111): Origins and Side Effects

J. Vrijmoeth, H. A. van der Vegt, J. A. Meyer, E. Vlieg, and R. J. Behm

Phys. Rev. Lett. 72, 3843 – Published 13 June 1994

Abstract

It has been shown that submonolayer deposits of Sb change the growth mode of Ag(111) from multilayer to layer-by-layer. Using scanning tunneling microscopy, we identify the two main origins of this behavior. (i) Sb lowers the mobility of Ag adatoms on terraces and growing islands. As a direct consequence, the additional edge barrier (barrier to descend a step minus surface diffusion barrier) is reduced. (ii) Sb lowers the mobility along step edges, inducing dendritic island shapes. Both effects favor smoother growth. Neither a lower Ag surface mobility nor heterogeneous nucleation are sufficient for a smooth growth.

Received 24 February 1994

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.72.3843

Authors & Affiliations

J. Vrijmoeth^1,*, H. A. van der Vegt², J. A. Meyer¹, E. Vlieg², and R. J. Behm¹

¹Abteilung Oberflächenchemie und Katalyse, Universität Ulm, D-89069 Ulm, Germany
²Foundation for Fundamental Research on Matter-Institute for Atomic and Molecular Physics, Kruislaan 407, 1098 SJ Amsterdam, The Netherlands