Thermal stability of atomically flat metal nanofilms on metallic substrates

CALLEJA, F.; HINAREJOS, J.J.; PASSEGGI (JR.), M.C.G.; LÓPEZ VÁZQUEZ DE PARGA, A.; MIRANDA, R.

APPLIED SURFACE SCIENCE

Elsevier Science

Lugar: Amsterdam, Holanda; Año: 2007 vol. 254 p. 12 - 15

0169-4332

By means of variable temperature scanning tunnelling microscope we studied the morphology and electronic structure of Pb films grown on Cu(111). Due to the spatial confinement of electrons, the islands display quantized energy levels. At 300 K, Pb forms 3D nanostructures with magic heights, that correspond to islands having a quantum well state (QWS) far from the Fermi energy. Below 100 K Pb grows in a quasi-layer-by-layer fashion. The QWS that develop in the films determine their total energy and, accordingly, their thermal stability. Films of particularly magic thickness are stable upon heating to 300 K.