AbstractScanning Probe Microscopy (SPM) in situ is used to study the evolution of Ge islands grown by Physical Vapor Deposition on Si(111) 7×7 reconstructed surfaces. Large 3D islands form on the Wetting Layer (WL), with average lateral dimension in the range 200 - 500 nm. The statistical distribution of the island shapes has been analyzed, showing that three types of shapes coexist under certain conditions: strained, partially relaxed and ripened (atoll-like) islands. We measured the contact angles of the island facets, and observed the depletion of the substrate around the ripened islands. These features are attributed to the misfit strain, which is partially relieved by interdiffusion of Si into the Ge layers.
