Surface diffusion of Au on [formula omitted] Si(111)–Au studied by nucleation-rate and Ostwald-ripening analysis

Abstract

The surface diffusion energy of Au on the 3×3 Au–Si(111) reconstructed surface is determined from low energy electron microscopy experiments. We have used two methods, one based on the nucleation of Au particles, the other one on the island growth by Ostwald ripening. The two methods give Ed=1.10±0.34eV and Ed=1.56±0.31eV respectively and with a weighted mean we obtain Ed=1.3±0.2eV. We suggest that this high activation energy could be due to a mechanism of diffusion by exchange.