Abstract
We have performed semi-empirical molecular-dynamics simulations and static potential-energy calculations to study kinetic mechanisms in Pt/Pt(111) homoepitaxy. Energy barriers for adatom incorporation into and minimum-potential -energy profiles for adatoms approaching the descending-step edges of small islands have been investigated. Adatoms incorporate into descending-step edges via a concerted exchange mechanism. The effects of island size and step-edge type on the incorporation kinetics have been studied and are found to be consistent with a recently proposed explanation for reentrant growth in Pt/Pt(111) homoepitaxy. Adatoms near the step edge have a significantly higher energy than those in the center of the island, due to decreasing coordination with the island atoms. From static-energy calculations, we find that energy barriers for an adatom to approach the descending-step edges do not differ considerably from the clean-surface diffusion barrier.
| Original language | English (US) |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 253-259 |
| Number of pages | 7 |
| Journal | Surface Science |
| Volume | 301 |
| Issue number | 1-3 |
| DOIs | |
| State | Published - Jan 10 1994 |
All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes
- Condensed Matter Physics
- Surfaces and Interfaces
- Surfaces, Coatings and Films
- Materials Chemistry