The deposition of Co on Cu(111) at room temperature gave rise to the appearance of monatomic-height laterally extended holes, as well as to the room-temperature motion of surface features. These events could be observed in real time by means of scanning tunnelling microscopy. The holes were produced by a spontaneous surface etching process which was related to the formation of a surface alloy that, in turn, caused enhanced surface diffusion. As a result, there was noticeable and unexpected mass transport at the surface during growth.

J.De la Figuera, J.E.Prieto, C.Ocal, R.Miranda: Surface Science, 1994, 307-309, 538-43