Atomic phenomena on Si surfaces at adsorption of transition metals

The effect of Ni and Co adsorption on Si surfaces with different orientations has been studied by LEED and AES. It has been established that the transport of Ni and Co atoms at Si surfaces is actually by their diffusion in the bulk of Si. There are two states of adsorbed Ni and Co atoms on Si surfaces. Nickel and cobalt adsorption may cause the reversible phase transitions on silicon surfaces at varying temperatures due to the change of their solubility in silicon and the redistribution of adsorbed atoms between the two possible states. The conditions for the existence of each of these states are different for Ni and Co atoms.