Temperature-Dependent Accommodation of Two Lattices of Largely Different Size during Growth

Abstract

If a material grows on another material with a largely different lattice constant, which of the two adapts for an energetically favorable growth? To tackle this question, we investigate the growth of Ag on Cu(111) by variable temperature scanning tunneling microscopy. The structures grown between 120 and 170 K are remarkably different from those grown between 200 and 340 K. The low-temperature structure is rectangular-like and consists of stacked rods, 7 to 8 Ag atoms long, which form a superstructure without long-range order. This structure covers the whole surface prior to nucleation of further layers. The high-temperature structure is hexagonal and consists of misfit dislocations forming 8 × 8 to 10 × 10 superstructures. For this structure, second layer nucleation sets in far before the closure of the first monolayer. While both structures are driven by the large lattice misfit between the two materials, the growing Ag layer adapts to the Cu surface at low temperature, while the Cu surface adapts to the growing Ag layer at higher temperature.

A Deeper Understanding of Metal Nucleation and Growth in Rechargeable Metal Batteries Through Theory and Experiment

“…[24,31,62,[77][78] There are few other investigations similar to Gu, et al's, suggesting that it is difficult to identify trends in optimal lattice combinations for metal deposition. [31,68,79] Further experiments exploring the nuances in crystal plane interface optimisation are needed to develop these trends. An optimised crystal interface between the nucleating metal and electrode could have a significant effect on cell stability.…”

“…[68] There have been several other studies designing CC materials based on lattice misfit with the nucleating metal and metal growth directions, including in Zn, Al, Cu, Li, and Na batteries [24,31,62,77–78] . There are few other investigations similar to Gu, et al.’s, suggesting that it is difficult to identify trends in optimal lattice combinations for metal deposition [31,68,79] …”