Orientation and structure of triple step staircase on vicinal Si(1 1 1) surfaces

TL;DR

This study investigates the atomic structure and orientation of triple step staircases on vicinal Si(111) surfaces using microscopy and diffraction techniques, revealing a specific (7 7 10) orientation and proposing an atomic model.

Contribution

It provides detailed experimental analysis and an atomic model of triple step structures on vicinal Si(111) surfaces, enhancing understanding of their orientation and morphology.

Findings

Surface consists of regularly spaced triple steps and (111) terraces.

The surface has a (7 7 10) orientation.

An atomic model of the triple step is proposed.

Abstract

The vicinal Si(111) surface, inclined towards the [-1-12] direction, was investigated by scanning tunnelling microscopy and spot profile analysing low energy electron diffraction. It has been established that the surface, consisting of regularly spaced triple steps and (111) terraces with a width equal to that of a single unit cell of the Si(111)-7x7 surface structure, has the (7 7 10) orientation. An atomic model of the triple step is proposed.