Properties of ultrathin Sb layers on the Ni(111) face

We present the first results concerning the atomic structure and morphology of ultrathin Sb layers deposited on the Ni(111) face in ultrahigh vacuum at the substrate temperature ranging from 150 to 700 K obtained with the use of Auger electron spectroscopy (AES), low-energy electron diffraction (LEED) and directional elastic peak electron spectroscopy (DEPES). The AES results indicate that the antimony layer on the Ni(111) at T < 200 K grows in the Frank–van der Merwe mode. For temperature around 250 K, the flat two atomic layer islands ("wedding cakes") seem to grow after completion of the first antimony monolayer. At T ≥ 300 K, a Sb–Ni surface alloy is formed. DEPES measurements indicate that the atomic structure of Sb layers deposited at T = 150 K is completely amorphous, while better and better pronounced maxima appear in DEPES profiles when the sample temperature increases from 300 to 450 K. LEED patterns corresponding to p(1 × 1), p(2 × 2) and (√16/7 x √16/7)R(±19.1°) structures have been observed for 150 K ≤ T ≤ 250 K. A possible model for the last structure is proposed. After annealing the deposited layer at T > 500K, the (√3x√3)R30° structure appears.