Co-induced nano-structures on Si(1Â 1Â 1) surface

The interaction of cobalt atoms with silicon (1 1 1) surface has been investigated by means of scanning tunneling microscopy (STM) and low-energy electron diffraction (LEED). Besides the Co silicide islands, we have successfully distinguished two inequivalent Co-induced 13×13 reconstructions on Si(1 1 1) surface. Our high-resolution STM images provide some structural properties of the two different 13×13 derived phases. Both of the two phases seem to form islands with single domain. The new findings will help us to understand the early stage of Co silicide formations.