SURFACE-DIFFUSION OF PD AND AU ON W SINGLE-CRYSTAL PLANES .2. ANISOTROPY OF PD SURFACE-DIFFUSION DUE TO THE INFLUENCE OF SUBSTRATE STRUCTURE

Large anisotropy effects have been observed for the spreading of Pd on W single crystal planes exhibiting regular step structures. The spreading rate was studied as function of step density and step direction at temperatures around 1000 K. The terraces had always (110) orientation. Step densities as low as 3.3 × 104 cm-1 corresponding to an average terrace width of 3000 Å already cause enhanced spreading rates parallel to the step direction. Steps parallel to the [001] direction showed the largest promoting action. The rate perpendicular to steps does not depend markedly on step density. The diffusion behaviour on the step free" (110) plane turned out to be isotropic. A model is proposed which assumes the mass transport to occur in the second Pd layer. The increase of the diffusion rate along steps is correlated with the much larger density of diffusing atoms in step sites as compared to terrace sites due to the difference in binding energy. © 1979."