2003 Volume 1 Pages 142-146
The growth of Mn and Gd on a vicinal Au(111) surface is observed by scanning tunneling microscopy at room temperature. One-dimensional nanostructures have been fabricated with Mn adatoms. Dosed Mn atoms are adsorbed at lower corners of {111} steps, and Mn adlayers grow in a step-flow growth mode on (111) terraces. On the other hand, there is no tendency for Gd to form one-dimensional structures. Dosed Gd atoms nucleate not only at lower corners of the steps but also on the terraces. As the coverage is increased, Gd adislands isotropically grow in size around the nucleation sites on the terraces. The mechanism of these different growth manners is qualitatively discussed. [DOI: 10.1380/ejssnt.2003.142]