title: Nanoscale footprints of self-running gallium droplets on GaAs surface.
abstract: In this work, the nanoscale footprints of self-driven liquid gallium droplet movement on a GaAs (001) surface will be presented and analyzed. The nanoscale footprints of a primary droplet trail and ordered secondary droplets along primary droplet trails are observed on the GaAs surface. A well ordered nanoterrace from the trail is left behind by a running droplet. In addition, collision events between two running droplets are investigated. The exposed fresh surface after a collision demonstrates a superior evaporation property. Based on the observation of droplet evolution at different stages as well as nanoscale footprints, a schematic diagram of droplet evolution is outlined in an attempt to understand the phenomenon of stick-slip droplet motion on the GaAs surface. The present study adds another piece of work to obtain the physical picture of a stick-slip self-driven mechanism in nanoscale, bridging nano and micro systems.
authors.affiliation: Arkansas Institute for Nanoscale Material Science and Engineering, University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, Arkansas, United States of America.
authors.forename: Jiang
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.forename: Zhiming M
authors.initials: ZM
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Alvason Z
authors.initials: AZ
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Mourad
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Benamara
authors.forename: Shibin
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Gregory J
authors.initials: GJ
authors.lastname: Salamo
mesh_terms: D001152:Arsenicals / Q000737:chemistry*; D005708:Gallium / Q000737:chemistry*; D057446:Hydrodynamics; D018625:Microscopy, Atomic Force; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D036103:Nanotechnology; D013499:Surface Properties
chemical_list: D001152:Arsenicals; C043055:gallium arsenide; D005708:Gallium