Real-space identification of the CZT(1 1 0) surface atomic structure by scanning tunneling microscopy

Various sputter–anneal treatments in-vacuum were applied to cleaved Cd0.9Zn0.1Te(1 1 0) surfaces. The morphology, stoichiometry, orientation and the atomic structures were investigated on “as-cleaved” as well as on sputter–annealed surfaces. The studies were conducted by in-situ scanning probe microscopy, in scanning tunneling and atomic force modes, low- and reflection high-energy electron diffraction, and Auger electron spectroscopy. Additional ex-situ investigation methods, such as electron back scattered diffraction and energy dispersive spectroscopy in a scanning electron microscope were applied. Such treatments resulted in a clean, unreconstructed (1 × 1) surface, which was structurally ordered, even if somewhat rough on the atomic scale. The optimal treatment found in this work consists of several cycles of 1.0 keV sputtering followed by 2 h annealing at 180 °C, despite some compositional changes, most notably Cd enrichment at the surface. The morphology of the surface was shown to depend on the sputtering energy, unlike the (1 × 1) atomic structure.