STM study of the InSb(111)A-(2 × 6) surface

Scanning tunneling microscopy (STM), reflection high energy electron diffraction (RHEED) and Auger electron spectroscopy (AES) experiments have been performed to study details of a (2 × 6) reconstructed surface of InSb(111)A. The results obtained are as follows: The (2 × 6) surface exists purely and solely in the narrow temperature range of 200 and 215°C where Sb atoms are considerably slowly desorbed from the domain boundaries. Above 215°C, vacancies and voids are formed by the desorption of Sb which constitutes the (2 × 6) surface. However, the RHEED experiment evidences the (2 × 6) surface to leave its own structure almost unchanged up to 230°C.