LEED, AES, and STM study of an ideal Si(111)–(1×1):H surface prepared by in situ atomic hydrogen exposure of the Pb induced (√3×√3)R30°-β phase: first experimental evidence of a non reversible transformation

Abstract

STM monitored topographical observations of the growth mode of Pb on a Si(111) surface passivated in situ by atomic hydrogen exposure using for the first time a group IV metal as intermediate adsorbate, are presented. A tri-dimensional growth mode of Volmer–Weber type is confirmed for the initial condensation phase of Pb atoms on the clean (1×1):H unreconstructed surface. A non reversible transformation (√3×√3→1×1→7×7) is clearly evidenced on the basis of LEED and Auger results.