The diffusion dynamics of small 2-dimensional atomic clusters Cux (1 ≤ x ≤8) on the Cu(111) surface were studied by using molecular dynamics simulations and a modified analytical embedded-atom method at 200 to 800K. The cluster size and temperature dependence of the diffusion coefficients and migration energies were found. The simulations showed that the diffusion migration energy of the Cu7 cluster was the highest, and that the pre-factor for the Cu7 cluster was almost 3 orders of magnitude larger than that for single-atom diffusion. This conclusion was consistent with the experimental results for similar metals. The dependence of cluster diffusion upon film growth was also considered.

Diffusion Dynamics of Cux Cluster on Cu(111) Surface. J.Tang, M.Xu, X.Li, W.Long: Chinese Journal of Chemical Physics, 2008, 21[1], 27-31