Growth process of palladium on mica studied by an atomic force microscope

Metal growth processes of Pd on mica were studied using atomic force microscopy. Hemispherical Pd clusters were formed when a faster deposition rate was applied. The coalescence of Pd clusters was not observed until the surface was filled with Pd clusters having a critical size. By using a slower deposition rate, a morphological change of Pd clusters was observed. It is suggested that these phenomena can be described in terms of the unit surface energy of the clusters.