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Surface stress and thermodynamic nanoscale size selection
J B Hannon1, J Tersoff, R M Tromp
1IBM Research Division, T. J. Watson Research Center, Post Office Box 218, Yorktown Heights, NY 10598, USA. jbhannon@us.ibm.com
Science (New York, N.Y.)
|January 12, 2002
Summary
Temperature controls domain size in surface phase transitions, revealing links between nucleation and size selection. This model applies to nanoscale self-assembly in contact with reservoirs like epitaxy.
Area of Science:
- Materials Science
- Surface Science
- Nanotechnology
Background:
- Surface phase transitions involve changes in material structure.
- Controlling domain size is crucial for material properties.
- Nanoscale self-assembly is key in modern material fabrication.
Purpose of the Study:
- To demonstrate temperature's role in tuning domain size during surface phase transitions.
- To determine material parameters from stable domain sizes.
- To elucidate the relationship between nucleation and thermodynamic size selection.
Main Methods:
- Utilizing the silicon (Si(111)) surface as a model system.
- Analyzing measured stable domain sizes.
- Developing a model for nanoscale self-assembly processes.
Main Results:
- Temperature effectively tunes domain size during surface phase transitions.
- Key material parameters were determined from domain size analysis.
- A clear relationship between nucleation and thermodynamic size selection was established.
Conclusions:
- Temperature is a critical parameter for controlling nanoscale domain formation.
- The developed model accurately describes self-assembly in contact with a reservoir.
- Findings are applicable to processes like liquid- and vapor-phase epitaxy.
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