Buffer-layer-assisted growth of nanocrystals: Ag-Xe-Si(111)

Silver nanocrystals have been grown on Xe buffer layers at 50 K. These 3D nanocrystals are delivered to Si(111)-(7 X 7) surfaces when the Xe layer is desorbed, but the density observed on the surface depends strongly on the buffer layer thickness. This dependence reflects an unusual desorption-assisted coalescence process. The results suggest that buffer-layer-assisted growth can be used to prepare nanocrystals of different sizes for a wide variety of materials and substrates.