Abstract
It is known that a quantum size effect can induce a morphological transition of Pb nanostructure, from three-dimensional clusters to multilayer two-dimensional islands, grown on the Si(111) at low temperature. We use scanning tunneling microscopy to in situ observe the formation of an individual island to figure out the transition process. Our results reveal that every island differing in thickness can be correlated with a unique transition pathway. A similar behavior is also observed in the growth of flat Ag islands on the Si(111) substrate at room temperature.
- Received 6 May 2004
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevB.71.073304
©2005 American Physical Society