Surface Structures Observed by High-Resolution UHV Electron Microscopy at Atomic Level

The dynamic processes and structure of an Au cluster growing from a few to several tens of atoms have been revealed using a new high-resolution electron microscope designed specially for in situ surface study at atomic level. The in situ microscopy has also clarified details of the reconstructed structure of Au(100)5×1 and (110)2×1 surfaces formed on particles using profile images. In the reflection microscope mode, the 7×7 reconstructed structure of the Si(111) surface has been seen with 2.3 nm superlattice fringes. In situ high-resolution electron microscope observations in transmission and reflection modes are thus demonstrated to be useful for studies of the dynamic behavior of surfaces.