Kraus, A. and Neddermeyer, H., Wulfhekel, W., Sander, D., Maroutian, T., Dulot, F., Martinez-Gil, A., Hanbücken, M.
Comparison of structural re-organisations observed on pre-patterned vicinal Si(111) and Si(100) surfaces during heat treatment
Applied Surface Science 234, (1-4),pp 307-312 (Eds.) Flores, F. and de Seqovia, J. L.,(2004)
The creation of distinct, periodically structured vicinal Si(1 1 1) and (1 0 0) substrates has been studied using scanning tunnelling microscopy at various temperatures. The vicinal Si(1 1 1) and (1 0 0) surfaces transform under heat treatment in a self-organised way into flat and stepped regions. Optical and electron beam lithography is used to produce a regular hole pattern on the surfaces, which interferes with the temperature-driven morphological changes. The step motions are strongly influenced by this pre-patterning. Pre-patterned Si(1 1 1) surfaces transform into regular one-dimensional (1D) and two-dimensional (2D) morphologies, which consist of terraces and arrangements of step bunches and facets. On pre-patterned Si(1 0 0) substrates different re-organisations were observed where checkerboard-like 2D structures are obtained.