Low energy cluster deposition of nanoalloys

Low energy deposition of metal alloy nanoclusters is studied by molecular dynamics simulations. In a previous study, two mechanisms were introduced for epitaxial alignment of elemental clusters: The heating induced by the surface energy released upon impact and the thermally activated dislocation motion. In this study, these mechanisms are shown to dominate for Cu3Ag, Cu3Au, and Cu3Ni clusters as well. The question whether the alloyed nature of the system or the initial chemical ordering of the particles influences epitaxial alignment with a substrate is discussed. Chemical ordering is shown to have a negligible effect due to disordering occurring at the initial stages of deposition. (C) 2009 American Institute of Physics. {\}doi: 10.1063/1.322591