Direct Observation of a New Growth Mode: Subsurface Island Growth of Cu on Pb(111)

C. Nagl; E. Platzgummer; M. Schmid; P. Varga; S. Speller; W. Heiland

doi:10.1103/PhysRevLett.75.2976

Direct Observation of a New Growth Mode: Subsurface Island Growth of Cu on Pb(111)

C. Nagl, E. Platzgummer, M. Schmid, P. Varga, S. Speller, and W. Heiland

Phys. Rev. Lett. 75, 2976 – Published 16 October 1995; Erratum Phys. Rev. Lett. 76, 3240 (1996)

Abstract

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.