Effect of Ag adsorption on the structure and morphology of vicinal Si(111)surfaces

Effects of Ag adsorption on the structure and morphology of the vicinal Si( 111) surfaces misoriented towards the [11(2) over bar] and [<(11)over bar 2 >] directions have been studied by low energy electron diffraction and Ange r electron spectroscopy. It has been shown that Ag adsorption causes the se paration of the vicinal Si(111) surfaces into faceted configuration. On the surfaces inclined towards the [11(2) over bar] direction the facets (111), (551) and (110) form. The structure of the (111) facet depends on the Ag c overage value theta(Ag) and fits in with those observed previously on singu lar Si(111) surface. Two other facets have the 8x1-Ag and 1x2-Ag surface st ructures respectively. The surfaces inclined towards the [<(11)over bar 2>] direction separate into the (111), (311) and (322) facets. The latter two facets have the 3x1-Ag and the 2x1-Ag structure, respectively. The (331) su rface is also unstable towards Ag adsorption and breaks into the (111) and (110) facets.