Abstract
Thin NaCl films, epitaxially grown under ultra-high vacuum conditions, were electron bombarded and analyzed by reflection high energy electron diffraction (RHEED), Auger electron spectroscopy (AES) and quadrupole mass spectrometry (QMS). A comprehensive analysis of the results indicates that the impinging electrons cause surface dissociation, and consequently desorption of neutral chlorine and sodium at a rate governed by an Elovich-type mechanism. Simultaneously, the increasing coverage of carbon-oxygen compounds seem to indicate that metallic sodium clusters are formed and oxidized by gas phase residuals, to form a disordered inert layer at the surface. A mechanism of this process is suggested and the implications to subsequent epitaxial growth are discussed.
Original language | English |
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Pages (from-to) | 581-594 |
Number of pages | 14 |
Journal | Surface Science |
Volume | 87 |
Issue number | 2 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - 2 Aug 1979 |