A LEED study of the (0001) a-quartz surface reconstruction

This paper presents a low energy electron diffraction study of the α-SiO ₂(0001) surface structure modifications induced by thermal treatments under air. A reconstruction was observed as soon as the air heating temperature was greater than 600°C. The reconstructed mesh area is 84 times greater than the initial one. A preliminary interpretation in relation with the α-β transition phase of quartz occurring at 573°C is suggested. In particular, the observed rotation angle (11°) between the initial and the reconstructed surface lattices would be possibly related to the orientation of the triangular Dauphiné domains observed near the transition temperature.