THE USE OF STM TO STUDY METAL-FILM EPITAXY

In this paper we review work we have done at the IBM Almaden Research Center using the scanning tunneling microscope to understand the epita xial growth of metal films. In particular, we explore the important ro le of deposit-substrate interactions in controlling growth and film st ructure, both by strain of the substrate and by place-exchange intermi xing. These are illustrated first by the growth traits of Au, Ag, Ri, and Fe on Au(lll) and their relationship to the herringbone reconstruc tion. Au on Ag(110) is presented as a clear example of spontaneous pen etration of the substrate by deposited material at room temperature. F e on Cu(100) is a more subtle example of the effect of place-exchange and of ways to observe it. The martensitic transformation of thicker F e films on Cu(100) demonstrates the importance of bulklike structural changes in metastable epitaxial films.