Investigation of stable high-index silicon surfacesby means of LEED pattern analysis

Abstract

In the course of a systematic search for stable silicon surfaces, we have studied four stable high-index silicon surfaces, i.e., Si(1,1,11), (1 0 8), (2 1 2), and (15,1,17), by analyzing their low-energy electron diffraction (LEED) patterns. The results show not only that all these surfaces are stable but also that Si(15,1,17) is a major stable surface,whereas the rest three are minor stable surfaces, meaning that their unit cells consist of a nanometer facet of a major stable surface along with a double height step. In view of the periodic facet-step morphology of these minor stable surfaces, we suggest that these surfaces have the potential to be used as templates for growth of periodic nanowires of some suitable materials.