Strain can affect the morphology of a crystal surface, and cause modifications of its reconstruction even when weak, as in the case of mechanical bending. We carried out calculations of strain-dependent surface free energy and direct bending simulations demonstrating the change of incommensurate reconstruction in Au(111) under strain, in good agreement with recent data. Time-dependent strain should cause a sliding of the topmost layer over the second, suggesting an interesting case of nanofriction. Bending strain could also be used to fine tune the spacing of selectively absorbed nanoclusters.
@article{arxiv.cond-mat/0110576,
title = {Bending strain-driven modification of surface reconstructions: Au(111)},
author = {U. Tartaglino and E. Tosatti and D. Passerone and F. Ercolessi},
journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:cond-mat/0110576},
year = {2007}
}
Comments
4 pages, 5 figures. Published on PRB Rapid Comm. Major revision