Endotaxy of MnSb into GaSb

MnSb deposited on GaSb(0 0 1) by molecular beam epitaxy (MBE) is found to separate into disconnected volumes penetrating into the substrate. The MnSb nanocrystals formed in this way are single crystals having a strongly preferred alignment with the substrate matrix and a flat top coplanar with the substrate surface. This endotaxial growth mode opens up new possibilities for self-assembled fabrication of thermodynamically stable micro- and nanostructures. It demonstrates that atoms deep inside the substrate can become mobile during MBE growth, allowing the investigation and design of new approaches to self-assembled growth that utilize bulk migration.