Au induced reconstructions on Si(111)

Au adsorption induces a vast variety of different reconstructions on Si(1 1 1). In a combined scanning tunneling microscopy and spot-profile analysis-low energy electron diffraction study we have observed for the first time an Au induced (2 x 2)-Au and (3 root3 x 3 root3)-Au surface reconstruction. The atomic structure of the metastable (2 root 21 x 2 root 21)-Au reconstruction is described as (root3 x root3)-Au structure with an ordered arrangement of super-heavy domain walls. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.