The complex reconstruction characteristic of annealed Si(111) surfaces was removed by the interaction of As with the clean Si(111)-(7 x 7) surface. Surface-sensitive core-level spectroscopy measurements of the Si(111):As 1 x 1 surface reveal a well-ordered surface with threefold-coordinated As atoms replacing the Si atoms in the outermost layer. The absence of dangling bonds in this structure led to an unreconstructed surface which was highly resistant to contamination.

Arsenic Overlayer on Si(111) - Removal of Surface Reconstruction. M.A.Olmstead, R.D.Bringans, R.I.G.Uhrberg, R.Z.Bachrach: Physical Review B, 1986, 34, 6041-4