Surface etching and enhanced diffusion during the early stages of the growth of Co on Cu(111)

Abstract

The deposition of Co on Cu(111) at room temperature gives rise to the appearance of monoatomically-high, laterally extended holes, as well as room temperature motion of surface features, which is observed in real time by a scanning tunneling microscope. The holes are produced by a spontaneous surface etching process related to the formation of a surface alloy which, in turn, produces an enhancement of the surface diffusion. As a result of these phenomena there is a noticeable and unexpected mass transport at the surface during growth. We illustrate how these processes have an impact on the growth mode of Co on Cu(111).