
The Physics of Solid Surfaces 2.2 Surface Reconstruction and Relaxation 991
Reconstruction Models
In semiconductors, directional bonds are present that are
unsaturated at the surface. The driving force for recon-
struction is the tendency to minimize the number of such
dangling bonds (DBs).
Table 5.2-5 Reconstruction and relaxation of semiconductors. IBA, ion bombardment and annealing; MBE, molecular-beam
epitaxy; DAS, dimer–adatom–stacking fault. References are given in [2.3]
Crystal Face Reconstruction Preparation Model Remarks
symmetry
Diamond
(100) 2×1 Annealing Symmetric dimers
T > 1300 K
(110) 1×1 Annealing Truncated bulk
(111) 2×1 Annealing π-bonded chains
T > 1200 K
Si
(100) 2×1 IBA or MBE Symmetric and/or buckled
dimers (Fig. 5.2-7)
p(2 × 2) Same as above Ordered arrangement of Present locally (∼ 5%)
buckled dimers (Fig. 5.2-8)
c(4 × 2) Same as above Ordered arrangement of Present locally (∼ 5%)
buckled dimers (Fig. 5.2-10)
(110) 16 × 2 Annealing Dimers + adatoms + terraces (?) Other superstructures (probably
T > 1300 K stabilized by impurities) are
32× 2 Same as above Same as above observed: 4 × 5, 5 × 1, 2 × 1
(111) 2×1 Cleaving π-bonded chains Transforms irreversibly into 7×7
(Fig. 5.2-11, Table 5.2-6) at T 550 K
7×7 Cleaving + annealing at DAS + vacancies (Fig. 5.2-13) Equilibrium reconstruction
550 K or Annealing at
900 K or MBE
5×5 Same as above Same as above Present locally near steps
Ge
(100) 2×1 IBA or MBE Symmetric and/or buckled
dimers
p(2 × 2) Same as above Ordered arrangement of Present locally
buckled dimers
c(4 × 2) Same as above Same as above Same as above
(111) 2×1 Cleaving at π-bonded chains Transforms irreversibly into c(2×8)
40 < T < 400 K at T 400 K
c(2 × 8) Annealing Adatoms (Fig. 5.2-16) Equilibrium reconstruction
T > 400 K
GaAs
(100) c(2 × 8) IBA Ga (or As) dimers (?) As coverage 0.22–0.52
T 850 K
c(4 × 4) MBE + annealing As coverage 1–1.25
T 670 K
4×6 IBA As coverage 0.27–0.31
T 770–850 K
(110) 1×1 Cleaving, IBA Rotation/relaxation
(Fig. 5.2-17, Table 5.2-8)
(111)Ga 2×2 IBA or MBE Ga vacancies
(
¯
1
¯
1
¯
1)As 2×2 Same as above As trimers
GaP (110) 1×1 Cleaving, IBA Rotation/relaxation
(Fig. 5.2-17, Table 5.2-8)
GaSb (110) 1×1 Cleaving Same as above
In sp
3
-bonded crystals, the energy associated with
the angles between the bonds is rather small. In con-
trast, the energy associated with the length of the bonds
is large. Accordingly, reconstruction of covalent (or
moderately ionic) semiconductors occurs through dis-
Part 5 2.2