Growth and structure of Ag on bilayer Co nanoislands on Cu(111)

TL;DR

This study investigates how silver (Ag) grows on bilayer cobalt (Co) nanoislands on copper (Cu) (111) surfaces, revealing preferential nucleation, complete capping, and a specific surface reconstruction, which are important for magnetic nanostructure applications.

Contribution

It provides detailed insights into the growth behavior and surface structure of Ag on Co nanoislands, a novel system for magnetic nanostructure engineering.

Findings

Ag nucleates on Co nanoislands leaving Cu sites clean

Co islands are almost fully capped with Ag, forming multilayered structures

A (9×9) reconstruction of Ag overlayer on Co/Cu(111) is observed

Abstract

We have studied the growth of Ag on bilayer high Co nanoislands on Cu(111) using Scanning Tunneling Microscopy. Noble metal capping of magnetic nanostructures is known to influence the magnetism and knowledge of the growth is therefore important. We find that Ag preferentially nucleates on the Co nanoislands initially leaving the free Cu sites clean. Furthermore we observe, that those Co islands which are capped with Ag are almost completely capped thus making a perfect multilayered system of Ag/Co/Cu(111). We observe a (9$\times$9) reconstruction of the Ag overlayer on Co/Cu(111).