Some thermodynamic aspects of self-assembly of arrays of quantum dots

TL;DR

This paper investigates the thermodynamic factors influencing the self-assembly of quantum dot arrays, focusing on wetting behavior, island size, density, and shape effects in a simplified 1+1D model.

Contribution

It introduces a thermodynamic analysis of island wetting and self-assembly in quantum dot arrays considering array density and shape, extending understanding of growth modes.

Findings

Wetting depends strongly on array density and island shape.

Critical island size for 2D-3D transformation is identified.

Wetting behavior varies with island size distribution.

Abstract

We have studied the relative adhesion (the wetting) of dislocation-free three-dimensional islands belonging to an array of islands to the wetting layer in Stranski-Krastanov growth mode. The array has been simulated as a chain of islands in 1+1 dimensions placed on top of a wetting layer. In addition to the critical size of the two-dimensional islands for the 2D-3D transformation to occur, we find that the wetting depends strongly on the density of the array, the size distribution and the shape of the islands.