Absolute surface energy determination

Abstract

Experimental determination of absolute surface energies remains a challenge. We propose a simple method based on two independent measurements on 3D and 2D equilibrium shapes completed by the analysis of the thermal fluctuation of an isolated step. Using then basic equations (Wulff' theorem, Gibbs-Thomson equation, thermodynamics fluctuation of an isolated step) allows us to extract the absolute surface free energy of a singular face. The so-proposed method can be applied when (i) all orientations exists on the equilibrium shape, (ii) the surface stress is isotropic. This procedure is applied to the case of Si(111) where we find a value between 0.59 Jm-2 and 0.83 Jm-2 at 1373 K.

13 pages, 7 figures

References in corpus (1)

• Equilibrium nano-shape changes induced by epitaxial stress (generalised Wulf-Kaishew theorem)

Cited by in corpus (5)

• Surface energy calculations from Zinc blende (111)/(-1-1-1) to Wurtzite (0001)/(000-1):a study of ZnO and GaN
• Vicinal silicon surfaces: from step density wave to faceting
• Non-universal equilibrium crystal shape results from sticky steps
• Surface parameters of ferritic iron-rich Fe-Cr alloy
• Spirals on Si(111) at sublimation and growth: REM and LODREM observations