Abstract
The absolute measurement of free energies associated with crystal steps on a metal surface has been a long-standing problem. We report a reliable estimate of the step free energy on a Cu(111) crystal surface, based on an analysis of island shape fluctuations directly imaged by scanning tunneling microscopy. The result of 0.22 eV per atomic distance for steps running into close-packed directions is in good agreement with theoretical predictions.
| Original language | English |
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| Pages (from-to) | 3843-3846 |
| Number of pages | 4 |
| Journal | Physical review letters |
| Volume | 82 |
| Issue number | 19 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - 1999 |