Diffusion of Cu atoms on a strained Cu (111) surface was studied by molecular dynamic simulation using an EAM potential. The anisotropic diffusion behaviour was found when the uniaxial strain was imposed on the surface, which did not exist under the biaxial strain. The migration of the adatom was suppressed along the tensile strain direction. The results suggested that different island morphology could be obtained by controlling anisotropic diffusion of adatoms on the strained surfaces during film growth.

Anisotropic Diffusion of Cu Adatoms on Strained Cu (111) Surface. Y.X.Wang, Z.Y.Pan, T.J.Liu, X.M.Jiang, L.Zhou, J.Zhu: Applied Surface Science, 2006, 253[4], 1748-52