The structure of a passivating sulfide layer on Ge(001) was studied using X
-ray standing waves and X-ray fluorescence. The sulfide layer was formed by
reacting clean Ge substrates in (NH4)(2)S solutions of various concentrati
ons at 80 degrees C. For each treatment, a sulfide layer containing approxi
mately two to three monolayers (ML) of S was formed on the surface, and an
ordered structure was found at the interface that contained approximately 0
.4 ML of S. Our results suggest the rapid formation of a glassy GeSx layer
containing 1.5-2.5 ML S residing atop a partially ordered interfacial layer
of bridge-bonded S. The passivating reaction appears to be self-limited to
2-3 ML at this reaction temperature. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science B.V. All ri
ghts reserved.