A Role of Diffusion of Adatoms Between Layers in Nano-Structured Thin Films Growth at Condensation

We perform theoretical studies of the formation and growth of adsorbate surface structures during condensation from the gas phase in the framework of the reaction-diffusion model. We show that an increase in the vertical diffusion coefficient leads to a decrease in the concentration of the adsorbate on the first growing layer, the realization of first-order transitions and reversible processes of adsorbate ordering on the substrate. We demonstrate that in a limited range of values of the coefficient of vertical diffusion of adatoms between layers, its increase leads to a morphological transformation in the structure of the surface layer from separated holes in the adsorbate matrix (nano-holes) toward separated adsorbate structures on the substrate (nano-dots).