Surface structure of single-crystal cubic boron nitride (111) studied by LEED, EELS, and AES

The surface symmetry of cubic boron nitride (111) (c-BN) is characterized by low-electron energy diffraction. The polished c-BN (111) and hydrogen-plasma-treated sample both exhibit a 1x1 surface structure. The surface is effectively etched by hydrogen plasma. High-resolution Auger and electron-energy-loss spectroscopy studies confirmed that the hydrogen-etched surface retains the integrity of crystalline c-BN (111). Characteristic energy-loss peaks at 15 eV due to an interband transition and at 37 eV due to a bulk plasmon can be observed on the single-crystal surface, even though they are usually absent from the energy-loss spectra of pyrolytic or polycrystalline BN samples.