The role of grain boundary sliding in solid-state dewetting of thin polycrystalline films

  We present experimental evidence that grain boundary sliding contributes to the mass transport associated with solid-state dewetting of a thin polycrystalline film of gold on sapphire. A model describing the retraction kinetics of the edge of polycrystalline thin film controlled by combined surface/interface diffusion and grain boundary sliding is proposed. The model predicts stepped film morphology in the vicinity of expanding hole, in good agreement with the experimental data.

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