Electrochemical scanning tunneling microscopy was employed to study the evolution of surface morphology during electrochemical preparation of Si(111)-H from Si(111) oxide. Anodic dark current of cyclic voltammogram in 0.2M $NH_4F$ solution (pH 4.7) de...
Electrochemical scanning tunneling microscopy was employed to study the evolution of surface morphology during electrochemical preparation of Si(111)-H from Si(111) oxide. Anodic dark current of cyclic voltammogram in 0.2M $NH_4F$ solution (pH 4.7) decreased as the number of cycles increased and remained nearly constant after the second cycle. Then, the Si(111) oxide was entirely stripped, which was followed by H termination on the Si(111) surface. Hydrides at kink and step sites were etched more rapidly than on the terrace, which remained triangle pits with [112] oriented steps where existed stable monohydride. Then, triangle pits deepened. During chronomamperometry at 0.4V anodic dark current shoulder appeared and decreased slowly, indicated the stripping of Si(111) oxide and the formation of stable (112) oriented steps with monohydride. Additionally, the etching mechanism of Si(111)-H in 0.2M $NH_4F(pH 4.7)$ solution at +0.4V was discussed.