Lattice deformation and strain-dependent atom processes at nitrogen-modified Cu(0 0 1) surfaces

• Published in: Progress in surface science Vol. 77; no. 1; pp. 1 - 36
• Main Authors: Komori, Fumio, Ohno, Shin-ya, Nakatsuji, Kan
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Amsterdam Elsevier Ltd 01.11.2004; Elsevier
• Subjects: Adsorption; Condensed matter: structure, mechanical and thermal properties; Cross-disciplinary physics: materials science; rheology; Cu surface; Exact sciences and technology; Island growth; Lattice strain; Materials science; Methods of nanofabrication; Nanoscale pattern formation; Nitrogen; Nucleation; Oxygen; Pattern formation; Physics; Scanning tunneling microscopy; Solid surfaces and solid-solid interfaces; Surface and interface dynamics and vibrations; Surface structure and topography; Surfaces and interfaces; thin films and whiskers (structure and nonelectronic properties); 73.25.+i; Pattern formation; Oxygen; Nucleation; Island growth; Nitrogen; Cu surface; Scanning tunneling microscopy; 68.35.Bs; Adsorption; 68.35.Ja; 81.16.Rf; Lattice strain; 68.37.Ef; Nanometer scale; Vicinal surface; Patterning; Reviews; Lattice distortion; Strains; Copper; Nanocrystal; Surface structure
• ISSN: 0079-6816; 1878-4240
• DOI: 10.1016/j.progsurf.2004.06.002

Strain-induced phenomena on Cu(0 0 1)-c(2 × 2)N surfaces are reviewed on the basis of the observations by scanning tunneling microscopy. On this surface, 5 nm × 5 nm square patches with the c(2 × 2)N surface can be arranged regularly and separated by a few nm wide clean Cu surfaces. An inhomogeneous lattice deformation in a nanometer scale is directly imaged on this surface, and nanopattern formations on vicinal surfaces are discussed. Both the growth of the magnetic metal nanodots and the dissociative adsorption of oxygen molecules are dependent on the local surface strain at the clean Cu area of the nitrogen-induced nanopattern. Strain dependent atom processes such as nanocrystal growths and molecular adsorptions are crucial for the further nanostructure formation using surface nanopatterns as templates.