Elemental structure in Si(110)-“16×2” revealed by scanning tunneling microscopy

Abstract

Atomic structures of the clean Si(110)-``16\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}2'' surface are studied by scanning tunneling microscopy (STM). High-resolution STM images reveal that the elemental structure in the ``16\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}2'' is a pair of pentagons. In the empty-states images the elemental structure is clearly resolved in ten protrusions, while in eight in the filled-states images. In order to clarify the atomic arrangement of the pentagons, we pay attention to the disordered area where the elemental structures are isolated on the bulk-terminated surface. The bulk-terminated surface structure, on which the pentagons are located, is well understood by the rotational-relaxation structural model. In consideration of the registry of the pentagon for the rotational-relaxation structure, a ``tetramer-interstitial'' model is proposed for the elemental structure, together with three other possible structural models.