Abstract
Self-assembly of surface phase domains is a promising route to fabricate stable nanometer-scale structures. This Letter reports a novel labyrinth structure of orthogonal nanoscale ribbons of ordered-alloy on Cu(100) formed by electrochemical deposition. The labyrinth develops as loops of ribbons elongate as closely spaced paired stripes. The structure is explained in terms of elastic interactions between anisotropic surface stress domains, wherein stripes of different phase variants form attractive dipoles. An energetic analysis determines the physical conditions necessary for the structure to form.
- Received 12 April 2005
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.95.186103
©2005 American Physical Society