Oxidation properties of InSb(110) Surfaces

The structural and electronic properties of InSb(110) surfaces, which were cleaned by argon bombardment annealing technique, have been investigated by LEED and surface conductivity measurements during oxygen adsorption. The diffraction patterns before and during exposure exhibit only diffraction spots which are compatible with the bulk periodicity. The exposures resulted in a gradual decrease of all beams. The surface conductivity increases during exposures. The magnitude of the adsorption induced changes is determined by the coverage and by the density of surface defects. In view of these results the oxidation process on the InSb(110) sur face is discussed.