Anomalous Shape and Decay of Islands on Au(110)

M. J. Rost, R. van Gastel, and J. W. M. Frenken
Phys. Rev. Lett. 84, 1966 – Published 28 February 2000
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Abstract

Scanning tunneling microscopy on roughened Au(110) reveals that the equilibrium shape of islands and pits on this surface is almondlike: each island contains two smoothly curved steps joined at two sharp corners. This shape has recently been predicted and finds its origin in the missing-row reconstruction of its fcc (110) surfaces (Au, Pt, etc.). We use the corner angles and the island shapes to determine the step energies. In addition we find that during the decay of an island on the Au(110) surface the shape changes and that the disappearance of the island involves the splitting of the layer below the island into two disconnected regions. The shape change has a dramatic influence on the decay rate of the islands.

  • Received 13 October 1999

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.84.1966

©2000 American Physical Society

Authors & Affiliations

M. J. Rost, R. van Gastel, and J. W. M. Frenken

  • Kamerlingh Onnes Laboratory, Leiden University, P.O. Box 9504, 2300 RA Leiden, The Netherlands

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Vol. 84, Iss. 9 — 28 February 2000

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