Ag growth on Si(111) with an Sb surfactant investigated by scanning tunneling microscopy

We have investigated a room-temperature growth mode of ultrathin Ag films on a Si(111) surface with an Sb surfactant using STM in a UHV system. On the Sb-passivated Si surface, small sized islands were formed up to 1.1 ML. Flat Ag islands were dominant at 2.1 ML, coalescing into larger islands at 3.2 ML. Although the initial growth mode of Ag films on the Sb-terminated Si(111) surface was Volmer-Weber (island growth), the films were much more uniform than Ag growth on clean (Si(111) at the higher coverages. From the analysis of STM images of Ag films grown with and without an Sb surfactant, the uniform growth of Ag films using an Sb surfactant appears to be caused by the kinetic effects of Ag on the preadsorbed Sb layer. Our STM results indicated that Sb suppresses the surface diffusion of Ag atoms and increases the Ag-island density. The increased island density is believed to cause coalescence of Ag islands at higher coverages of Ag, resulting in the growth of atomically flat and uniform Ag islands on the Sb surfactant layer.     

Kinetics of facile bilayer island formation at low temperature: Ag/NiAl(110)

Facile nucleation and growth of bilayer Ag(110) islands on NiAl(110) is observed by STM for Ag deposition at temperatures as low as 127 K. Density functional theory analysis for supported Ag films determines adatom adsorption energies (which favor bilayer islands), interaction energies, and diffusion barriers. Analysis of an atomistic lattice-gas model incorporating these energies elucidates the role of strongly anisotropic interactions in enabling the upward mass transport needed for bilayer island formation.     

Interaction of Ag and O on W(1 1 0) studied by scanning tunneling microscopy

The structural changes of Ag films on W(1 1 0) upon coadsorption of oxygen have been studied by scanning tunneling microscopy. The exposure of one monolayer Ag to oxygen leads to a phase separation into an Ag bilayer and patches of O-covered W(1 1 0). The effective Ag island thickness increases linearly with oxygen exposure. For Ag submonolayer-islands the onset of the bilayer formation is delayed, the induction period increases with the available free W area. We conclude that the steps of the transport process are (1) dissociation of oxygen on W and on the Ag islands, (2) site exchange of atomic oxygen with Ag atoms predominantly at the island edges - while on W(1 1 0) the oxygen is immobile, (3) diffusion of the displaced Ag atoms to the island edges where they are incorporated into the monolayer and (4) initiation of Ag bilayer formation, once the W(1 1 0) is saturated with O. This indicates an unexpected activity of the Ag monolayer on W(1 1 0) towards oxygen dissociation. In case of a reversed deposition sequence, where submonolayer quantities of Ag are adsorbed on an oxygen-precovered W(1 1 0) surface, growth of Ag clusters is observed. The distribution of cluster size and cluster height depends critically on the spatial order within the predeposited oxygen overlayer - it is obvious that the oxygen overlayer on the W surface acts as a structured template for preferential Ag nucleation.     

热退火诱导纳米银膜形貌变化对表面等离激元共振特性的影响

采用磁控溅射技术制备并通过不同温度的快速热退火得到了不同表面形貌的纳米银膜。利用XRD,SEM和紫外-可见-近红外透射光谱等技术研究了纳米银膜的结构、表面形貌与光学性质。实验结果表明,随着退火温度的升高,银膜开口面积分数、银岛(纳米粒子)间距增大,长宽比减小,银岛由各向异性的蠕虫状变成各向同性的纳米球;表面等离激元共振带发生连续的蓝移,半高宽变窄。分析表明,纳米银膜的表面等离激元共振特性可以通过热退火诱导的表面形貌变化实现调整。     

Preferential heights in the growth of Ag islands on Si(1 1 1)-(7 × 7) surfaces

Growth behavior of thin Ag films on Si substrates at room temperature has been investigated by scanning tunneling microscopy and reflection high energy electron diffraction. In the layer-plus-island growth Ag islands show strongly preferred atomic scale heights and flat top. At low coverage (1 ML), islands containing two atomic layers of Ag are overwhelmingly formed. At higher coverages island height distribution shows strong peaks at relative heights corresponding to an even number (2, 4, 6, …) of Ag atomic layers. Beyond some coverage the height preference vanishes due to the appearance of screw dislocations and spiral growth.     

生长初期Ta膜的表面动态演化行为

用磁控溅射方法在单晶Si衬底上沉积膜厚为15—250nm的Ta膜.基于原子力显微镜获得的薄膜表面形貌，用动力学标度理论量化表征薄膜表面动态演化行为.结果表明：当膜厚d<50nm时，薄膜生长指数β≈0.17，而d>50nm后β≈0.45；随着d增加，粗糙度指数α由0.24逐渐增加到0.69，且在d>50nm后趋于稳定.Ta膜的表面动态演化行为揭示了其由小岛聚合结构向连续膜演化的生长过程.与自阴影等非局域效应引起的非稳定行为不同的是，当d<50nm时，薄膜表面动态演化的非稳定行为来源于生长初期的小岛聚合，表面小岛沿膜面切向的生长优于沿法向的生长.随着d继续增加，薄膜以连续膜形式生长，表面动态演化趋于稳定.     

Crucial role of substrate steps in de-wetting of crystalline thin films

Using low-energy electron microscopy, we show that de-wetting of Ag and Cu films on Ru(0 0 0 1) occurs by 3-D islands migrating across step edges in the “downhill” direction. We have observed islands thicken by more than 50 atomic layers in this manner. The island migration allows 3-D growth to occur in a way that avoids the nucleation barrier associated with forming 2-D islands on top of 3-D islands. Indeed, without substrate steps this nucleation barrier is not surmounted, and no 3-D islands are formed in the films studied.     

Tunable surface-plasmon-resonance wavelength of silver island films

This paper experimentally and theoretically investigates the effect of the underlayer medium on tuning of the surface plasmon resonance (SPR) wavelength of silver island films,and the effect of substrate temperature on the morphologies and optical properties of the films.From the absorption spectra of single Ag with various thickness and overcoated (Ag/TiO 2) films deposited on glass substrates at various substrate temperatures by RF magnetron sputtering,we demonstrate that the surface plasmon resonance wavelength can be made tunable by changing the underlayer medium,the thickness of metal layer and the substrate temperature.By varying substrate temperatures,the interparticle coupling effects on plasmon resonances of nanosilver particles enhance as the spacing between the particles reduces.When the substrate temperature is up to 500 C,the absorption peak decreases sharply and shifts to shorter wavelength side due to the severe coalescence between silver islands in the film.     

The Fluorescence Enhancement of the Protein Adsorbed on the Surface of Ag Nanoparticle

The fluorescence enhancement of the BSA adsorbed on the surface of Ag nanoparticles is reported, where non-fluorescent collagen is used as the separator between the BSA and Ag nanoparticles. The study indicates that Ag nanoparticles can enhance the fluorescence of the BSA, especially the fluorescence of the tyrosine residues with lower quantum. Three types of Ag nanoparticles are evaluated including Ag island film, Ag colloids and fractal Ag electrode. Of them Ag island film is the best. The investigation suggests that the fluorescence enhancement of the BSA is related to the adsorption of the BSA on the surface of Ag island film through the hydrophobic interaction, while the collagen can promote the adsorption of the BSA on the surface of Ag island film and change its conformation, resulting in the interaction between BSA and Ag island film.     

Structure and magnetic properties of CoPtCu:Ag nanocomposite films with (001) texture

Nanocomposite (001) textured CoPtCu:Ag films consisting of well separated L1₀ structure CoPtCu nanoparticles have been prepared using a CoPt/Cu/Ag multilayer precursor on SiO₂/Si(100) substrate by magnetron sputtering and subsequent vacuum thermal annealing. With a Cu concentration of 6–10% and Ag of 10–20% in atomic ratio, the films start ordering at an annealing temperature of 450 °C, which is roughly lower by 150 °C than that needed for most CoPt-based films especially with (001) texture. The perpendicular coercivities for the film are in the range from 5 kOe to 7 kOe after annealing at 500 °C in vacuum. The (001) texture for the film is partially due to the formation of an Ag underlayer after annealing, the decreasing of the ordering temperature is most-likely related to the formation of CoPtCu alloy nanoparticles in the film. PACS 75.30.Gw; 75.50.Kj; 75.70.Ak     

Time evolution of adatom and vacancy clusters on Ag(110)

The time evolution of adatom and vacancy islands on an Ag(110) surface is studied by using a variable-temperature ultrahigh vacuum scanning tunneling microscope. The islands are created by Ar⁺ ion sputtering at low temperatures and at very low fluxes (0.004 ML s⁻¹). The area of both kinds of island decreases linearly as a function of time, at least for small islands. The experimental results are compared with kinetic Monte Carlo simulations.     

Electron and atom dynamics at solid surfaces and relation to epitaxy

At the surface, the three dimensional symmetry of a solid is broken. Electrons and atoms near the surface may rearrange to lower the free energy of the system. Scattering by defects and confinement by boundaries of electrons may produce long-range charge density oscillations. Adatoms interact with each other via mutual perturbation of the surface, known as indirect electronic and elastic interactions. These interactions are very weak and are also oscillatory. For some systems, formation of adsorption layer superstructures can be directly correlated to adatom–adatom interactions. When the temperature is raised, adatoms and admolecules can start to diffuse, interact, or react. They may aggregate into clusters and islands, and grown into a thin film. The stability of clusters may exhibit magic numbers in size and thickness. When the temperature is changed, island shape transitions may occur. The growth of islands and ultra-thin films can also be influenced by electronic effects as well as by the addition of a surfactant layer. All these growth behaviors in epitaxy can be understood from the mechanisms and energetics of elementary surface atomic processes, and atom and electron dynamics. They, in turn, can be studied in details using atomic resolution microscopy.     

Quantum size effects in metal thin films grown on quasicrystalline substrates

We have investigated by scanning tunneling microscopy the growth of Bi and Ag thin films on the fivefold surface of Al63Cu24Fe13 and Al72Pd19.5Mn8.5 quasicrystal, respectively. For both systems, we observe the formation of islands with magic height, corresponding to the stacking of a specific number of atomic layers. We interpret this unusual growth morphology in terms of quantum size effects, arising from the confinement of the electron within the film. The magic island heights are thus a direct manifestation of the electronic structure of the quasicrystalline substrates.     

Mechanisms and kinetics of the initial stages of growth of films grown by chemical vapor deposition

The initial stages of growth of films and coatings by chemical vapor deposition are investigated. A system of equations is derived which describes the evolution of an island film at the stage of Ostwald ripening under conditions characteristic of vapor deposition. Solving this system of equations yields the dependence of all of the main characteristics of island films (the size distribution function of the islands, the dependence of the mean radius and density of the islands) as functions of time and the spatial coordinate. Suggestions are given for the preparation of films with prescribed properties. Zh. Tekh. Fiz. 68, 111–117 (July 1998)     

Photochemical Synthesis and Properties of Colloidal Copper,Silver and Gold Adsorbed on Quartz

Original methods for the photochemical production of stable copper, silver and gold colloids in the form of films on quartz, and dispersion in liquids were devised. It is shown that photochemical synthesis of colloidal metals is a difficult multiphase process, and includes the formation of low-valence forms of Cu(I), Au(I) and nonmetal clusters, colloidal particles and their agglomerates. Cluster stabilization and further growth to colloidal particles are achieved by adsorption onto the solid surface (quartz) or by increasing the viscosity of photolyte. In the absence of these methods of stabilization, the processes of intermediate reoxidation to Cu(II) and Au(III) and agglomeration of Ag and Au colloids proceed in a photolyte. Adsorption and the rate of cluster growth on a quartz surface are speeded up by the action of monochromatic UV light. Experimental models of the mechanism of colloidal formation are suggested. The dependence of the growth rate and the properties of the colloids on conditions of the photochemical procedure (energy and light intensity, concentration of initial complex) has been established.     

Decorated Ag19 on Pt(111) or the "rare gas necklace"

Ag19 cluster ions are mass selected and deposited on a Pt(111) surface covered by five monolayers of Kr. Almost monodispersed hexagonal shaped Ag islands are observed after Kr evaporation at 125 K. The identification of the island shape and the exact number of atoms has been successful by decorating the clusters with Kr atoms which can be counted by high resolution scanning tunneling microscopy.     

MULTIPLE CLUSTER GROWTH OF ULTRA-THIN FILMS WITH ANISOTROPIC EDGE DIFFUSION

The multiple cluster growth of ultra-thin films on a hexagonal substrate with fractal, dendritic and compact morphology has been studied by computer simulation. The influence of the different diffusion processes along island edges on the island shape has been investigated. The results show that the anisotropic corner diffusion induces the dendritic growth, and the anisotropic step diffusion can promote the anisotropic growth and cause the ramified islands growing in three directions. In the case of compact growth, the island shape is mainly determined by the anisotropic corner crossing process. The nonuniform distribution of the multiple cluster formation can be described quantitatively by multifractal. With patterns changing from fractal to compact islands, the width and height of the bell-like or hook-like multifractal spectra increase, while the top f(α) decreases.     

Sensor studies of the initial stages of the cadmium telluride film formation through vapor deposition

The results of sensor and electron-microscopic studies of the initial stages of cadmium telluride film formation through vapor deposition on a substrate at room temperature and on a substrate cooled by liquid nitrogen (highly nonequilibrium conditions) are reported. A piezoelectric quartz resonator is used as a sensor. The kinetic curves of the sensor analytical signal and photomicrographs are presented. A jumplike character of the nucleation process and a quasi-periodical growth mechanism for island films are disclosed. A sequence of new-phase island ensembles is formed in an analogous way. These islands increase the substrate surface coverage in a quasi-discrete manner. The experimental results are shown to agree with current theory of the first-order phase transitions and models of layer formation in highly nonequilibrium conditions.     

Formation of argentic clusters and small Ag nanoparticles in soda-lime silicate glass

The formation of argentic clusters and very small Ag nanoparticles of 0.5 to 2 nm size in commercial soda-lime glass silver-doped by Ag/Na ion exchange in a mixed nitrate melt has been studied by electron microscopy and EXAFS. Particles formation was induced already during the ion exchange procedure, or by subsequent ion irradiation with 1.5 MeV He⁺ or 3 MeV Au⁺. The presence of nanoparticles was also macroscopically revealed by their surface plasmon resonance. The structural characterization indicates that specific configurations of silver oxide-like structures, so-called argentic clusters, are involved in the initial stage of nanoparticles formation.     

Growth and morphology of thin films of aromatic molecules on metals: the case of perylene

The morphology and growth of perylene films on copper and gold surfaces have been characterized by XPS, AFM, SEM and polarization microscopy. Deposition at cryogenic temperatures leads to amorphous but homogeneous films whereas growth a room temperature results in a formation of disjointed crystalline islands. A similar morphology was observed after thawing the amorphous films which were grown before at low temperature and hence demonstrates a pronounced dewetting. Furthermore, it was found that the geometry of the resulting islands depends on the actual substrate surface which is attributed to the formation of seed layers and their influence on the subsequent film growth. The presently described dewetting and island formation appears to be a quite general phenomenon of organic film growth which needs to be considered in the interpretation of spectroscopic data and STM measurements for organic thin films. PACS 68.37.-d; 68.37.Ps; 68.55.Jk