Quantum size effects in the surface energy of $\mathrm{Pb}∕\mathrm{Si}(111)$ film nanostructures studied by surface x-ray diffraction and model calculations

Quantum size effects in the surface energy of $Pb ∕ Si (111)$ film nanostructures studied by surface x-ray diffraction and model calculations

P. Czoschke, Hawoong Hong, L. Basile, and T.-C. Chiang

Phys. Rev. B 72, 075402 – Published 1 August 2005

Abstract

We have used surface x-ray diffraction from a synchrotron source, along with models based upon a free-electron gas confined to a quantum well, to study quantum size effects in the surface energy of ultrathin Pb films grown on pretreated Si(111) substrates. Films grown at $110 K$ are smooth, but as they are annealed to near room temperature, their morphology is observed evolving through various metastable states and eventually to a roughened state in local equilibrium. Strong variations in the stability of different island heights are observed, consistent with quasibilayer oscillations in the surface energy found from the theoretical free-electron calculations. By analyzing the quasiequilibrium distribution of thicknesses, empirical information on the film surface energy is obtained for a wide range of thicknesses. The morphological annealing behavior of the films is also found to be explained by the deduced surface energy.

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Received 18 April 2005

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevB.72.075402

Authors & Affiliations

P. Czoschke^1,2, Hawoong Hong², L. Basile^1,2, and T.-C. Chiang^1,2,*

¹Department of Physics, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 1110 W. Green Street, Urbana, Illinois 61801-3080, USA
²Frederick Seitz Materials Research Laboratory, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 104 S. Goodwin Avenue, Urbana, Illinois 61801-2902, USA

^*Electronic address: chiang@mrl.uiuc.edu

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Vol. 72, Iss. 7 — 15 August 2005

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Physical Review B

covering condensed matter and materials physics

Quantum size effects in the surface energy of $Pb ∕ Si (111)$ film nanostructures studied by surface x-ray diffraction and model calculations

P. Czoschke, Hawoong Hong, L. Basile, and T.-C. Chiang

Phys. Rev. B 72, 075402 – Published 1 August 2005

Abstract

Authors & Affiliations

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Physical Review B

covering condensed matter and materials physics

Quantum size effects in the surface energy of Pb∕Si(111) film nanostructures studied by surface x-ray diffraction and model calculations

P. Czoschke, Hawoong Hong, L. Basile, and T.-C. Chiang

Phys. Rev. B 72, 075402 – Published 1 August 2005

Abstract

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Quantum size effects in the surface energy of $Pb ∕ Si (111)$ film nanostructures studied by surface x-ray diffraction and model calculations