Article ID | Journal | Published Year | Pages | File Type |
---|---|---|---|---|
5364832 | Applied Surface Science | 2009 | 9 Pages |
The stoichiometry, microstructure and surface composition of MnSb have been investigated using X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, electron diffraction and microscopy. Epitaxially grown samples were exposed to ambient air for several weeks and methods for preparing clean, stoichiometric and smooth surfaces were investigated. Air-stored sample surfaces are chemically stratified but dominated by Mn oxides 4-5Â nm thick. These oxides are difficult to remove by ion bombardment and annealing (IBA), but a brief etch in HCl removes them very efficiently. It leaves the surface Sb-rich, and clean, smooth and stoichiometric surfaces are then readily recovered by IBA. These surfaces exhibit a (2Â ÃÂ 2) surface reconstruction with atomically flat terraces. This reconstruction can be reversibly changed to a (1Â ÃÂ 1) by Sb deposition and annealing.