The growth and structure of thin copper films on (001) surfaces of nickel

The epitaxial growth of thin copper films on (001) surfaces of nickel in ultra-high vacuum has been investigated using Auger electron spectroscopy and electron microscopy. At room temperature, deposits tend to grow in layer-like fashion and are strained compressively to be coherent with the substrate up to a thickness of about 8 Å. Above this thickness the elastic strain decreases with the introduction of misfit dislocations, but more rapidly than theories predict. At 300°C, copper grows by a Stranski–Krastenov mechanism.