Wetting of the Au(110) substrate: Homoepitaxial islands and layers

Abstract

The morphology of epitaxial structures formed in solidification of liquid Au films on the Au(110) surface was studied by molecular dynamics simulation based on a many--body interatomic potential. The (1x2) reconstructed and smooth phase at the temperature T=500 K, as well as a deconstructed and rough phase of the Au(110) substrate at T=900 K, were investigated. The three--dimensional islands with the (111) oriented facets were formed in solidification of thinner liquid films. At the same time, the substrate below these islands underwent a weak faceting process. Conversely, the solidification of thicker liquid films resulted in the flat solid films. The two surface phases of the Au(110) substrate induced different structure of these epitaxial solid films. The films were studied via construction of the Voronoi polyhedra, density profiles, and surface stress calculations.