The initial stages of Cu/alumina interface formation during Cu vapor deposition were studied on two (00▪1) a-alumina surfaces with differing crystallographic structures:

primitive 1 x 1 and reconstructed (v31 x v31)R ± 9º. The surface phase-transition which corresponded to the latter surface structure led to a difference in the growth of Cu clusters. On both surfaces, clustering occurred even at the lowest Cu coverages. However, the size of the clusters was larger on the reconstructed surface than on the primitive one.

M.Gautier, J.P.Duraud, L.P.Van: Surface Science Letters, 1991, 249[1-3], L327-32