The epitaxial growth of Cr on Ag {111} substrates

The orientation and morphology of vacuum-deposited Cr (average thickness 1.5 - 20 nm), condensed in ultrahigh vacuum (about 10-9 torr) onto Ag {111} substrates, were studied by transmission electron microscopy and electron diffraction. Substrate temperatures during deposition were in the range 25 - 2900C. Island growth occurred at all temperatures. The orientation of the Cr islands depended on the substrate temperature. Orientation relationships are discussed in terms of purely geometric models as well as van der Merwe's theory in which the elasticity of the overlayer is taken into account