Temperature-dependent Sb-induced facetting of Si(5 5 12)-$2{\times}1$ from (225)/(112) to (113)/(335): Role of Sb-inserted 5-7-5 rings of Si surfaces.

The atomic structure of Sb/Si(5 5 12)-$2{\times}1$ surface, deposited at room temperature (RT) and post-annealed, has been identified by scanning tunneling microscopy and the corresponding interface has been studied by synchrotron core-level photoemission spectroscopy. With 0.3-nm Sb deposition at RT and postannealing at $600^{\circ}C$, the surface has been facetted to (225)-$2{\times}1$ and (112)-$1{\times}1$, and its Si 2p has shown that all the Si 2p surface components have disappeared, while the single Sb-Si interfacial component has appeared. Such results indicate that all of surface Si atoms are replaced by Sb atoms and the charge is transferred from Si to passivating Sb-atoms at the top layer. With subsequent postannealing up to $700^{\circ}C$, the surface has been facetted to (113)-$2{\times}2$ and (335)-$4{\times}2$, still having Sb-Si interfacial component and partially re-exposed Si surface components. From the present study, the role of surfactant atom, Sb, as well as the thermal-stabilization of Sb-passivated high-index Si surface will be exposed. Especially, the key role of the Sb/Si(113)-$2{\times}2$, composed of Rebonded-Dimer-Rebonded atom 1D structures, for stabilization will be discussed.