The TiC(001) surface was observed by scanning tunnelling microscopy with atomic resolution in ultra-high vacuum. After the sample was cleaned by repeated heating at ~1300C, the 1 x 1 structure was observed. On the other hand, the √2 x √2 structure due to the ordered carbon vacancies formed when the sample was annealed at ~1150C. The chemical activity of carbon vacancies of both structures for oxygen was demonstrated. The TiC(001)-(1 x 1) surface with intentionally increased carbon vacancies and the TiC(001)-(√2 x √2) surface changed to a defect-free 1 x 1 structure with a small amount of oxygen, owing to the preferential adsorption of oxygen on the carbon vacancies.

Surface Reconstruction of TiC(001) and its Chemical Activity for Oxygen. H.Kuramochi, K.Takami, A.Saito, Y.Kuwahara, Y.Mori, S.Otani, M.Aono: Applied Physics Letters, 1999, 75[24], 3784