Self-organized growth of Fe nanowire array on H2O/Si(100)(2 x n)

By evaporating Fe on to a water-terminated Si(100)(2xn) surface, we formed an Fe wire array reflecting the 2xn surface reconstruction. The average wir e width was 2 nm and the period was 3 nm. The formation was caused by the d eposited Fe atoms diffusing over the water-terminated flat area and being t rapped at dimer vacancy lines. This array is applicable to magnetic devices . (C) 1999 American Institute of Physics. [S0003-6951(99)03930-3].