The thermal decompositon of s-triazine (ST) on Si(100)-2X1 was studied
with HREELS, UPS, XPS, and TDS. Two desorption peaks at 180 and 235 K
were noted in the TD spectra due to the overlayer and the mono- or su
bmonolayer adsorbates, respectively. Above 200 K, the ST is likely to
lie flat on the surface as indicated by the virtual absence of the asy
mmetric ring breathing mode at 145 meV in HREELS and by the relatively
lower ST coverage (<0.3 L) at T-s > 200 K. Annealing a 1.2-L ST-dosed
sample at 550 K caused the dissociation of ST into HC=N, accompanied
by the formation of NH and SiH bonds. Further annealing the surface at
780 K dissociated the CN-containing species and the NH bond. Above 80
0 K, a mixture of silicon nitride and silicon carbide was formed on th
e surface following the cracking of the CH bond and the desorption of
the H species. The photodissociation of ST on Si(100)-2x1 was also exa
mined; CN radicals and the HCN species could be identified on the surf
ace after it was exposed to 308-nm excimer laser radiaton at 100 K. Th
e appearance of CN radicals reflects the difference between the therma
l decomposition reaction and the photodissociation process.