Samarium-induced surface reconstructions of Si(0Â 0Â 1)

The growth of Sm on Si(0 0 1) at 600 °C was studied by scanning tunneling microscopy. There are two different surface reconstructions: a lower coverage 2 × 3 phase and a higher coverage 3 × 2 phase. Sm zigzag chain structures coexist with the 2 × 3 structure at low coverage. The 3 × 2 phase coexists with a related c(6 × 2) phase. At higher coverages, large 3D Sm silicide islands are found.