Atomic self-diffusion behaviors relevant to 2D homoepitaxy growth on stepped Pd(001) surface

•The diffusion dynamics behavior of Pd adatom along [110]-direction is derived.•The adatom diffuses across perfect step with an ES barrier of 0.09 eV.•The kink can effectively decrease the ES barrier of adatom across the step.•The kink can increase the interlayer diffusion mobility of adatom markedly.•The kink plays a key role for layer-by-layer growth model in epitaxial growth.

Using molecular dynamics, nudged elastic band and modified analytic embedded atom methods, the diffusion behaviors of Pd adatom on stepped Pd(001) surface have been investigated. Lower than 975 K, Pd adatom just hops along the perfect [110]-direction step. The diffusion dynamics equation is derived from the Arrhenius law between 875 and 975 K, and the corresponding migration energy and prefactor are 0.76 eV and 5.2 × 10− 2 cm2/s respectively, which shows that they adhere to the step in case of adatom moving to the step. The adatom diffuses across the perfect step with an Ehrlich-Schwoebel barrier of 0.09 eV by exchange mechanism. Our calculations show the kink at step can markedly decrease the static energy barrier across the step with a negative Ehrlich-Schwoebel barrier, and it contributes to form layer-by-layer growth model in the epitaxial experiment. Our calculations show that the kink can also markedly improve the adatom's mass transport of interlayer, contributing to the formation of the compact film. Lastly, a quantitative result at 300 K shows that the kink affects tremendously the diffusion mobility of adatom near it, which indicates that the kink plays a key role in the formation of the compact and uniform film on Pd(001) surface in an epitaxial growth experiment.