The contribution of kinetic nucleation theories to studies of Volmer-Weber thin film growth

Abstract

Extensive study of the vapour deposition of noble metals onto UHV cleaved alkali halide crystal surfaces has made an important contribution to the development of time-dependent nucleation theory. There nevertheless remain significant inconsistencies between results obtained from different studies of identical systems. The role which the time-dependent kinetic approach to nucleation theory has played in the past and that which it might take in the future are discussed.