Steady state shapes of periodic profiles on (110), (100), and (111) surfaces of nickel

Periodic surface profiles with amplitudes of ≦0.4 μm and periodicities of 4–20 μm were prepared on Ni(110), (100), and (111) single crystal surfaces. These crystals were annealed in ultra-high vacuum (UHV) at 1073–1327 K after they had been cleaned by Ar ion bombardment and investigated by Auger electron spectroscopy. The geometry of the profiles was studied in UHV by laser diffraction and outside the vacuum by interference microscopy. The profiles have sinusoidal shapes on Ni(110) but trapezoidal shapes on both the (100) and (111) surfaces. This type of faceting can be understood on the basis of the anisotropic surface energy of Ni, with cusps at the (100) and (111) orientations. Model calculations show in the case of anisotropic surface energy that periodic profiles develop facets which correspond to the low surface energy orientations (close-packed surfaces).