Formation trends of ordered self-assembled nanoislands on stepped substrates

Abstract

The growth of ordered self-assembled nanoislands on stepped substrates is studied systematically by kinetic Monte Carlo simulations. As the terrace width is small, the formation of nanoislands is confined in the steps and nanoislands ordered in lines or nanowires can be obtained. The Schwoebel barrier at the step edges has a great influence on the evolution of both the size and space distributions of the islands. When the terrace width is relatively large, self-ordering of nanoislands in the center regions of the terraces happens. An unexpected trend of the nanoisland self-ordering is found as the deposition thickness is larger than 0.2 ML, which can be related to the attractive migrations between nearby islands.

On the sintering of gold nanorod assemblies towards continuous networks

“…The other one is attractive migration and coalescence. 39,40 In this sintering mechanism, metal particles are either close enough to each other or free to move so that they can collide with other particles, resulting in coalescence. The formation of a neck between adjacent particles is a strong indication of this mechanism.…”