FORMATION ENERGIES OF 2-DIMENSIONAL NUCLEI RANDOMLY-GENERATED ON (001)PLANES, (110)PLANES, AND (111)PLANES OF A FACE-CENTERED-CUBIC CRYSTAL

Monte-Carlo simulations of the two-dimensional crystal nucleus growth on (001), (110) and (111) crystal planes of a face-centered-cubic latt ice have been conducted considering: (1) the adsorption of an atom fro m the surrounding,eases, (2) its surface diffusion, (3) its annihilati on, and (4) its being incorporated into the crystal nucleus. The energ y of the formed nucleus was calculated using the bond-splitting model with reference to the energy of atoms at the half-crystal position and its dependence on the nucleus size were evaluated. The results implie s that Pangarov's theory to explain the dependence of preferred orient ation on the supersaturation might have to be amended in case above dy namic processes have a vital effect on the shape of nucleus of deposit ed thin films. (C) 1997 Published by Elsevier Science S.A.