GROWTH OF NOBLE-METALS ON (100) FACES OF NBSE3

Au and Ag deposited NbSe3 crystals were studied by scanning tunneling microscopy. Both noble metals were shown to nucleate along the grooves parallel to the [010] direction of the periodically corrugated substr ate. Au continued to grow into irregular islands, while Ag formed isla nds with monoatomic steps aligned along the grooves. It was observed t hat contrary to Au the deposited Ag lends to disappear from the surfac e, either by diffusion along the surface or by intercalation into the van der Waals' gaps of the substrate.