Volume-weber is another process involving the growth of thin films. As explained by Alberto,1 The process involves the growth of layers on top of each other. The process of layers forming on top of each other is referred to as epitaxial. The rate of growth is determined by two factors, which are;
- adatoms (adatomic),
- the surface on which the crystals form.
The full cycle of the process is determined by the magnitude of interactions between the two factors named above. Different layers are formed from different matter states. For instance, the formation of epilayers is common in a liquid state. On its part, the epitaxial process occurs in a gaseous state. Alberto2 gives the example of molecular beam epitaxy as an indication of the process of volmer–weber process.
During the growth process, volmer–weber surface of interactions are very strong. The strength leads to an adatom structure with a three-dimensional surface. Unlike the Frank-van der Merwe process, which is characterised by a smooth growth, Volmer-weber is characterised by a rough multi-layer structure.3
Bibliography
Alberto, J, Physics of crystal growth, Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, 2012.
Matthews, J, Epitaxial growth, Academic Press, New York, 2012.
Footnotes
- J Alberto, Physics of crystal growth, Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, 2012, p. 59.
- Alberto, p. 60.
- J Matthews, Epitaxial growth, Academic Press, New York, 2012, p. 71.