STM OBSERVATION OF AG CLUSTERING ON HYDROGEN-TERMINATED SI(100) SURFACES

The effect of hydrogen termination on Si(100)-2 x 1 surfaces upon Ag d eposition at room temperature (RT) and high temperature (350 degrees C ) has been investigated by a scanning tunneling microscopy. The result s are also compared with those on clean Si(100)-2 x 1 surfaces. When A g was deposited at RT, small Ag clusters formed on the hydrogen termin ated surface, in contrast that scattered and relatively individual Ag atoms formed on a clean Si(100)-2 x 1 surface. As increasing the subst rate temperature, the size of AS clusters became larger and the shape gradually changed to rectangular, whose edges were parallel to [011] a nd [01 (3) over bar] directions, Structural models for these surfaces are also proposed. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science B.V.