Size and shape of three-dimensional Cu clusters on a MgO(001) substrate: Combined ab initio and thermodynamic approach

David Fuks, Eugene A. Kotomin, Yuri F. Zhukovskii, A. Marshall Stoneham

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

10 Scopus citations

Abstract

In order to describe theoretically metallic island growth at the early stages of metal deposition on oxide substrates, we combined ab initio atomic and electronic structure calculations with thermodynamic theory of solid solutions. The experimentally observed truncated pyramidal shape of metallic clusters is reproduced as the result of metal atom segregation from the lattice gas in imaginary Ising lattice towards the metal/substrate interface. Our approach is illustrated by detailed analysis of Cu islands on a MgO(001) -terminated surface. We predict dependencies of the shape and the height of such clusters on the temperature and metal gas pressure.

Original languageEnglish
Article number115418
JournalPhysical Review B - Condensed Matter and Materials Physics
Volume74
Issue number11
DOIs
StatePublished - 9 Oct 2006

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Electronic, Optical and Magnetic Materials
  • Condensed Matter Physics

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