Comparative theoretical study of the Ag-MgO (100) and (110) interfaces

We have calculated the atomic and electronic structures of Ag-MgO(100) and (110) interfaces using a periodic (slab) model and an ab initio Hartree-Fock approach with a posteriori electron correlation corrections. The electronic structure information includes interatomic bond populations, effective charges, and multipole moments of ions. This information is analyzed in conjunction with the interface binding energy and the equilibrium distances for both interfaces for various coverages. There are significant differences between partly covered surfaces and surfaces with several layers of metal, and these can be understood in terms of electrostatics and the electron density changes.For complete monolayer (1:1) coverage of the perfect MgO(100) surface, the most favorable adsorption site energetically for the Ag atom is above the surface oxygen. However, for partial (1:4) coverage of the same surface, the binding energies are very close for all the three likely adsorption positions (Ag over O, Ag over Mg, Ag over a gap position),For a complete (1:1) Ag monolayer coverage of the perfect MgO(110) interface, the preferable Ag adsorption site is over the interatomic gap position, whereas for an Ag bilayer coverage the preferred Ag site is above the subsurface Mg2+ ion (the bridge site between two nearest surface O2- ions). In the case of 1:2 layer coverage, both sites are energetically equivalent. These two adhesion energies for the (110) substrate are by a factor of two to three larger than over other possible adsorption sites on perfect(110) or (100) surfaces.We compare our atomistic calculations for one to three Ag planes with those obtained by the shell model for 10 Ag planes and the Image Interaction Model addressing the case of thick metal layers. Qualitatively, our ab initio results agree well with many features of these models. The main charge redistributions are well in line with those expected from the Image Model. There is also broad agreement in regard to orders of magnitude of energies. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved

The kinetic MC modelling of reversible pattern formation in initial stages of thin metallic film growth on crystalline substrates

The results of kinetic MC simulations of the reversible pattern formation during the adsorption of mobile metal atoms on crystalline substrates are discussed. Pattern formation, simulated for submonolayer metal coverage, is characterized in terms of the joint correlation functions for a spatial distribution of adsorbed atoms. A wide range of situations, from the almost irreversible to strongly reversible regimes, is simulated. We demonstrate that the patterns obtained are defined by a key dimensionless parameter: the ratio of the mutual attraction energy between atoms to the substrate temperature. Our ab initio calculations for the nearest Ag-Ag adsorbate atom interaction on an MgO substrate give an attraction energy as large as 1.6 eV, close to that in a free molecule. This is in contrast to the small Ag adhesion and migration energies (0.23 and 0.05 eV, respectively) on a defect-free MgO substrate. (C) 2003 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved

First principles simulations of 2D Cu superlattices on the MgO(001) surface

First principles slab simulations of copper 2D superlattices of different densities on the perfect MgO(0 0 1) surface are performed using the DFT method as implemented into the CRYSTAL98 computer code. In order to clarify the nature of interfacial bonding, we consider regular 1/4, 1/2 and I monolayer (ML) coverages and compare results of our calculations with various experimental and theoretical data. Our general conclusion is that the physical adhesion associated with a Cu polarization and charge redistribution gives the predominant contribution to the bonding of the regular Cu 2D layer on the MgO(0 0 1) surface. (C) 2003 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved

Theory of the growth mode for a thin metallic film on an insulating substrate

We have developed a novel theory predicting the growth mode of a thin metallic film on an insulating substrate. This combines ab initio electronic structure calculations for several ordered metal/insulator interfaces (varying both coverage and substrate lattice constant). with a thermodynamic approach based on microscopic calculations. We illustrate this approach for Ag film deposited on MgO(00 1) substrate. Ab initio calculations predict high mobility of adsorbed silver atoms on the perfect magnesia surface even at low temperatures, Our theoretical analysis clearly demonstrates that the growth of metallic islands is predominant at the initial stage of silver deposition, which agrees with the experimental data. (C) 2001 Published by Elsevier Science B.V

Adhesion trends and growth mode of ultra-thin copper films on MgO

Ab initio simulations are performed for Cu atoms adsorbed on the perfect MgO(001) substrate, with an ordered metal coverage varied from 1/4 monolayer (ML), i.e. almost single atoms, up to 1 ML. A strong dependence of the adhesion energy and the sub-monolayer film distance from the substrate on the surface coverage and adsorbate positions (Mg2+ or O2-) is discussed. The nature of interfacial bonding at all coverages is physisorption. When increasing Cu atomic fraction, a decrease of the substrate-induced polarization of adatoms accompanied by an increase of both in-plane metallic bonding and the interfacial distance has been found. Combining results of ab initio calculations with thermodynamic theory (taking into account the lattice mismatch), we show that the metal cluster formation becomes the predominant growth mode even at low Cu coverages, in agreement with experiment