Structured surfaces of wide band gap insulators as templates for overgrowth of adsorbates

Surface structures on wide band gap insulators and their use as templates for the growth of adsorbates are reviewed. Surface structures include evaporation structures, vicinal surfaces, facetted surfaces, epitaxial structures, or structures transferred to or induced by the growth of thin films. Most structures have been realized so far on Al(2)O(3) and on alkali halide crystals. The guided growth of adsorbates is discussed, considering the examples of metallic clusters or wires and ordered films of organic molecules.