| AVS 66th International Symposium & Exhibition | |
| Surface Science Division | Tuesday Sessions |
| Session SS+2D+HC-TuM |
| Session: | Atom Manipulation and Synthesis/Oxide Surface Reactions & Flash Session |
| Presenter: | Matthew Koppa, University of New Mexico |
| Authors: | M.A. Koppa, University of New Mexico P.R. Schwoebel, University of New Mexico D.H. Dunlap, University of New Mexico |
| Correspondent: | Click to Email |
The growth of crystals from the vapor phase is widely used in many technological applications, ranging from the microfabrication of microprocessors to the development of biological sensors. The dynamics of processes such as the surface diffusion of adatoms are key phenomena governing mass transport and the resulting crystal growth. Atomic exchange with substrate atoms during surface self-diffusion has been inferred from previous field ion microscope(FIM)-based experiments by mapping adatom visitation sites. Here iridium enriched to >93% 191Ir was deposited onto an atomically clean and smooth Ir(100) plane as observed in an atom-probe field ion microscope. Following thermally activated surface self-diffusion the adatom was field desorbed and mass analyzed. Observation of the 193Ir isotope in one-half of the cases demonstrates conclusively that atomic exchange can occur during surface self-diffusion.