Adsorption and diffusion of Ag atoms on Si(1 1 1)-(7 × 7) surface

Very initial stages of Ag nucleation on Si(1 1 1)-(7×7) surface were studied using scanning tunneling microscopy at room temperature (RT). At RT silver atoms form small clusters inside half-unit cells (HUCs) of the 7×7 surface reconstruction. Precise measurement of the amount of deposited material allowed to determine the appearance of the HUCs containing one and two silver atoms. Mobility of Ag atoms at RT was studied and growth of the smallest silver objects was investigated during a real time observation of selected surface region.