During the fabrication of nano-islands on a surface without any outside supply of atoms, the effect of temperature differences on the surface was studied using a kinetic Monte Carlo simulation. By locating a low-temperature region on a Si(100)-2x1 surface at 800K, morphological variations on the surface were investigated. When the temperature was less than 730K, an island formed in the region. If the nucleus of growth was placed in the region in advance, the critical temperature for growth was lowered. The growth condition of islands could be explained by analyzing the hopping rates of atoms on the surface.

Effect of Temperature Differences on Adatom Diffusion and Growth of Nano-Islands on Si(100) Surfaces. S.Toyoshima, T.Kawamura: Japanese Journal of Applied Physics – 2, 2004, 43[5A], L595-8