Photoemission study of cobalt interaction with the oxidized Si(1 0 0)2 × 1 surface

The interaction of cobalt atoms with an oxidized Si(1 0 0)2 × 1 surface was studied by photoelectron spectroscopy with synchrotron radiation at room and elevated temperatures. The SiOx layer grown in situ on the crystal surface was ∼0.3 nm thick, and the amount of deposited cobalt was varied within eight atomic layers. It was found that Co atoms could penetrate under the SiOx layer even at room temperature in the initial growth. As the Co amount increased, a ternary Co–O–Si phase was formed at the interface, followed by a Co–Si solid solution. Silicide synthesis associated with the decomposition of these phases started under the SiOx layer at ∼250 °C, producing cobalt disilicide with a stable CaF2-type of structure.