Surface diffusion mechanisms for strain-induced self-assembly

Abstract

A general rate equation describing the adatom concentration on inhomogeneously strained surfaces is presented and exemplified with kinetic Monte Carlo simulations. It is shown how the distribution of energy barriers has an important effect on the dynamics of self-assembly and how the nucleation process can be controlled through the strain of the substrate. This investigation demonstrates the possibility of adatom energetics, where the strongest binding sites are not favorable for nucleation. This is due to a purely kinetic effect where the surface areas with the largest adatom mobility result in the highest nucleation rate of diffusing adatoms.