In-Situ TEM Observations of Different Growth Modes of Small Iron
Particles on Sapphire
An in-situ study was performed of the growth kinetics of individual crystallites during the deposition of iron onto electron-transparent singlecrystalline α-Al2O3 (sapphire) substrates. Clean sapphire films were produced in-situ under UHV conditions by electron-beam induced crystallization of amorphous Al2O3 (1). Iron was electron-beam vapor-deposited at constant rates (0.2-0.5 nm/min) and elevated substrate temperatures (750 – 900°C) immediately following the crystallization. The nucleation, growth, and eventual coalescence of the metal particles were observed in-situ by transmission electron microscopy and recorded on video tape at 30 frames per second. In fig. 1, a growth and coalescence sequence of several Fe-particles on [100]-α-Al2O3 is shown. The images were selected and photographed from the TV monitor during video playback. The particles marked with letters were analyzed in detail. Noteworthy is that particle A (after about 30 min. of growth) started a rapid increase of its length-to-width ratio. Particle H, formed in a coalescence event, exhibited a preferred growth in a special direction, presumably in order to develop a certain crystallographic habit. Particle K developed a fast lateral growth ab-initio and remained a thin platelet until it coalesced with a neighboring particle about 25 min. after the beginning of the deposition.