Surface Science Group
Department of Physics and Astronomy
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Surface Science Group |
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Asymmetry in surface structure can lead to preferred growth directions for materials deposited on the surface. The existance of preferred growth directions can lead to nanowires - essentially island formation where the long axis is the energetically preferred site for bonding of additional adatoms. We are investigating several means of growing nanowires including strain-mediated self assembly as well as growth on morphologies that induce wire growth such as facetted substrates. Our interest is in understanding the electronic structure within pseudo-1D materials and how this differs from 2D films and 3D crystals. We expect that the optical properties will be quite different from the more "common" bulk-like structures. |
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The First Monolayer of Ag |
When Ag is first deposited on either Cu(110) or Ni(110), unusual surface alloys form - unusual since these materials are not normally bulk miscible. As the coverage approaches 1 ML, the Ag undergoes a de-alloy phase change resulting in a (111) layer that is very poorly coupled to the substrate shown in (a) Cu(110) and (b) Ni(110). |
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Ag Nanowires |
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 | Subsequent deposition of additional Ag results in nanowires aligned along the [1-10] directions, and limited to ~100-200Å widths. Ag nanowires on Cu(110) (LEFT) and on Ni(110) (RIGHT). |
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