https://doi.org/10.1140/epjd/e2004-00115-2
Ag–Co clusters deposition on Ag(100): an atomic scale study
1
Physique des Solides Irradiés et des Nanostructures CP234,
Université Libre de Bruxelles, boulevard du Triomphe, 1050 Brussels, Belgium
2
Theoretical Dept., Arifov Institute of Electronics, F. Khodjaev Str.
33, 700125 Tashkent, Uzbekistan
3
Ferghana Polytechnic Institute, Ferghana Str. 86, 712022 Ferghana,
Uzbekistan
Corresponding author: a mhou@ulb.ac.be
Received:
27
April
2004
Revised:
11
June
2004
Published online:
31
August
2004
The slowing down of Co10Ag191 and Co285Ag301 nanoclusters on a Ag (100) surface is studied at the atomic scale by means of classical Molecular Dynamics simulations. The slowing down energy, 0.25 to 1.5 eV/atom, is characteristic of low energy cluster beam deposition and aerosol focused beam techniques. The two clusters differentiate by their size, stoechiometry and structure. While Co forms one or several groups just beneath the cluster surface in Co10Ag191, Co285Ag301 displays a core-shell structure where Ag forms one complete monolayer around the Co core. As a consequence of the impact, the smallest cluster undergoes deep reorganization and becomes fully epitaxial with the substrate. The larger one only undergoes partial accommodation and partially retains the memory of its initial morphology. For both, after impact, the Co forms one group covered by Ag. The substrate damage is significant and depends on the slowing down energy. It results in a Ag step surrounding the cluster which may be more than one atomic layers high and isolated add-atoms or small monolayer islands apart from the step. The latter originate from the cluster and the former from the substrate. Further details in the consequences of the impact are given, concerning the cluster penetration, its deformation and lattice distortions, with emphasis on the cluster size and stoechiometry.
PACS: 61.46.+w – Nanoscale materials: clusters, nanoparticles, nanotubes, and nanocrystals / 07.05.Tp – Computer modeling and simulation
© EDP Sciences, Società Italiana di Fisica, Springer-Verlag, 2004