Epitaxial growth of ultrathin Ag films on Al(111)

The structure and growth mode of Ag evaporated on Al(111) at room temperature were investigated by ion scattering. Within the limits of our experimental resolution (0.2 إ), the positions of the adsorbed Ag atoms were found to coincide laterally and vertically with the positions of the extended Al bulk lattice. The fcc stacking layer sequence of the substrate is kept by the adsorbing Ag at least up to the second layer. Strong indications for island formation (three-dimensional growth mode) have been found.