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Thermally Assisted Atom Transfer on Surfaces: Between Tunneling and Activated Diffusion

Published

Author(s)

John William Gadzuk

Abstract

The low temperature rates for site-to-site transfer of single atoms and molecules adsorbed on surfaces have been determined in recent STM studies1 within the temperature regime where the dominant transfer mechanism changes from mostly activated transmission over to thermally assisted tunneling through the inter-site (transition state) barrier, as the temperature is reduced. A model that has provided useful conceptual and quantitative insights into thermally assisted field emission tunneling spectroscopy2 is used here as the basis for theory of site-to-site atom transfer in this temperature range where proper account of tunneling and quantum reflection, for energies below and above the transition state barrier is required. The predicted transfer rates which are very sensitive to barrier shape as well as height, agree well with those observed in the STM studies of Co and Cu on Cu(111) surfaces in the interesting 4K?T?7K transition range which is relevant in the atom-by-atom fabrication of thermally stable surface nanostructures.1J. Repp, G. Meyer, K.-H. Rieder, and P. Hyldgaard, Phys. Rev. Letters, Vol.91, 206102 (2003); J. A. Stroscio and R. J. Celotta, Science, Vol.306, 242 (2004).2J. W. Gadzuk and E. W. Plummer, Phys.Rev.B Vol.3, 2125 (1971).
Proceedings Title
Proceedings | 52nd
Conference Dates
October 30-November 4, 2005
Conference Title
AVS International Symposium

Citation

, J. (2005), Thermally Assisted Atom Transfer on Surfaces: Between Tunneling and Activated Diffusion, Proceedings | 52nd (Accessed October 14, 2024)

Issues

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Created November 4, 2005, Updated June 14, 2017