Self-organized growth of Fe nanowire array on H2O/Si(100)(2×n)

Abstract

By evaporating Fe on to a water-terminated Si(100)(2×n) surface, we formed an Fe wire array reflecting the 2×n surface reconstruction. The average wire width was 2 nm and the period was 3 nm. The formation was caused by the deposited Fe atoms diffusing over the water-terminated flat area and being trapped at dimer vacancy lines. This array is applicable to magnetic devices.