surfaces. The morphology, stoichiometry, orientation and the atomic structures were
investigated on “as-cleaved” as well as on sputter–annealed surfaces. The studies were
conducted by in-situ scanning probe microscopy, in scanning tunneling and atomic force
modes, low-and reflection high-energy electron diffraction, and Auger electron spectroscopy.
Additional ex-situ investigation methods, such as electron back scattered diffraction and …