Surface science lettersAdsorption of H on Si(111) −3 × 3 − Ag: evidence for Ag(111) agglomerates formation

In this low-energy ion scattering study we find that the reaction of H with Si(111) − √3 × √3 − Ag results in an extensive surface modification. Saturated adsorption of H of about 1.5 ML coverage below 100 ° C transforms an uniform Ag monolayer in the √3 × √3 lattice into very small crystallites of Ag(111) grown epitaxially on the Si(111) substrate. The thickness of the Ag(111) crystallites is found to be three atomic layers. When only H is thermally desorbed by moderate heating above 400 ° C, the crystallite disappears and the original √3 × √3 − Ag is recovered.