Surface Alloy Formation of Nb on Cu(100)

We studied Nb growth mode on Cu(100) surface by scanning tunneling microscopy (STM) at room temperature. Nb/Cu is immiscible at room temperature and thus is an ideal system for studying surface alloy formation. Initially deposited Nb atoms are incorporated subsurface on Cu(100). After annealing, they are preferentially found at step edges and appear as bright dots surrounded by dark rings. Ordering emerges from step edges as annealed. Ordered ({{{{ SQRT { 5} }$\times${{{{ SQRT { 5} }}}})R 26.6$^{\circ}$phase Nb structure is formed at $\theta$<0.2ML after annealing to 50$0^{\circ}C$. At higher coverage, $\theta$>0.25, annealing leads to p(2$\times$2) phase. due to large mismatch in lattice parameters, the domain is limited to a few tens of nm2. Growth kinetics of the system will be discussed.