Thin film growth Stranski—Krastanov

In practice, uniform films are obtained for only a limited number of film-substrate material combinations (17). The more common experience is that the deposited material forms 3D clusters. The clusters may form directly on the bare substrate, in the Volmer-Weber growth mode, or on top of a very thin but uniform film of the deposit, the Stranski-Krastanov growth mode. We now discuss a method for determining the equilibrium configuration of the deposited material. 

Stranski—Krastanov Often, growth of thin films occurs in the regime between the Volmer—Weber and Frank—van der Merwe mechanisms, in which an initial layer is formed on the substrate, but then 3D island structures form. 

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