Self-Organized Growth of Nanoparticles on a Surface Patterned by a Buried Dislocation Network

The self-organized growth of Co nanoparticles with 10 nm periodicity was achieved at room temperature on a Ag(001) surface patterned by an underlying dislocation network, as shown by real time, in situ Grazing Incidence Small and Wide Angle X-ray Scattering. The misfit dislocation network, buried at the interface between a 5nm-thick Ag thin film and a MgO(001) substrate, induces a periodic strain field on top of the surface. Nucleation and growth of Co on tensile areas are found as the most favorable sites as highlighted by Molecular Dynamic simulations.