Observations of the Ag(3 × 1) phase on Ge(111)

Abstract

Low-energy electron diffraction and low-energy electron microscopy were used to study the (3 × 1) phase of Ag on Ge(111) for temperatures less than 540 °C. This phase was observed when depositing 0.05–0.1 ML Ag at 370 °C. The (3×3)R30o phase formed when depositing 0.3 ML Ag at 170 °C, and then annealing to 200−360 °C resulted in a nonreversible phase transition to [(4 × 4) + (3 × 1)] phases at 360 °C. The 3 phase appears to be metastable for temperatures <250 °C since subsequent cooling did not cause it to reappear. These experimental observations suggest modifications to a published phase diagram for Ag/Ge(111).