SURFACE-STRUCTURE OF HOMOEPITAXIAL DIAMOND(001) FILMS, A SCANNING-TUNNELING-MICROSCOPY STUDY

The surface structures of homoepitaxial diamond(001) films have been s tudied by using scanning tunneling microscopy. Boron-doped films were grown on natural diamond substrates. Images showed a dimer-type 2x1 re construction with well-resolved dimers. The surface consists of altern ating terraces of 2 x 1 and 1 x 2 dimerization which are separated by single-layer steps with inequivalent step edges along [110] directions . Double-layer steps running parallel to dimer rows of the upper terra ces were observed locally. We have also observed local 3 x 1 configura tions, antiphase boundaries, and dimer vacancies, etc. (C) 1995 Americ an Institute of Physics.