We are also interested in using H 2 chemistry to control the adsorption and reactivity of other molecules on the surface. Our goal is to understand the factors that control the final surface morphology. The present view is that the morphology stems from continuous etching of an essentially static surface. We are interested in possible effects caused by the diffusion and coalescence of small etch-induced defects, in particular their role in determining the final surface morphology. In addition, we are investigating the role of surface stress, which may weaken bonds or even push atoms out of the surface.
Nanoscale wires are essential interconnects for future device technologies.
Each occurs as a single wire or as a bundle up to tens of nanometers in diameter. We are interested in developing protocols for patterning and chemically modifying these wires for interconnect applications. Other than using fixed lithographically- delineated contacts there is no way at present to electrically characterize nanoscale wires or devices. The second method involves a conducting force probe and records I-V data at every image pixel.