The mass transport of Ag on stepped (111) surfaces was investigated by means of scanning Auger microscopy. Highly anisotropic surface diffusion of Ag ultra-thin films was observed on 0º, 0.5º, 3º and 6º vicinal (111). Mass transport in a direction which was parallel to the step edge was overwhelmingly greater than that perpendicular to the edge. Preferential mass transport towards the cathode, due to direct current heating, was also observed. This increased with the resistivity of the (111) substrate. The anisotropic mass transport was related to the difference in the binding energies at the step edge sites and at the terrace sites.

N.J.Wu, A.Natori, H.Yasunaga: Surface Science, 1991, 242[1-3], 191-4