Temperature dependent early stages formation of the Au / Si (100) interface

Electron spectroscopies observations on morphological changes in gold deposited on Si (100) surfaces as a function of temperature have been reported. A detailed study of the Au/Si(100) interface is presented in the early stages of its formation at various temperatures in the low coverage region from zero to few mono-layers using LEED, AES and transmission electron spectroscopy. The Au / Si (100 ) system exhibits the Stranski- Krastanov growth mode where gold crystallites (without any apparent crystallographic face ) on a 2D monolayers. The effect of temperature on the desorption of gold on silicon is discussed.