Thermodynamics of coherently-strained GexSi1-x nanocrystals on Si(001): alloy composition and island formation. Academic Article

abstract

• We determined the enthalpic and entropic contributions to the thermodynamics of coherently strained nanocrystals grown via deposition of pure Ge on Si(001) surfaces at 600 and 700 degrees C by analyzing their composition profile and local strain. We found that the free energy associated with the entropy of mixing, which drives GexSi1-x alloy formation, was significantly larger than the relaxation enthalpy that produces the islands. Thus, entropy plays a significant role in the evolution of the size and shape of the islands during growth through the strong thermodynamic drive to form an alloy.

authors

• Williams, R. Stanley

published proceedings

• Nano Lett

author list (cited authors)

• Medeiros-Ribeiro, G., & Williams, R. S.

citation count

• 69

complete list of authors

• Medeiros-Ribeiro, Gilberto||Williams, R Stanley

publication date

• February 2007

publisher

• American Chemical Society (ACS)  Publisher

published in

• Nano Letters: a journal dedicated to nanoscience and nanotechnology  Journal

keywords

• 0912 Materials Engineering

PubMed Central ID

• 17253759

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

• 10.1021/nl062530k

start page

• 223

end page

• 226

volume

• 7

issue

• 2