Si(hhm) surfaces: Templates for developing nanostructures

The fabrication of ordered low-dimensional structures on clean and metal-atom-decorated stepped Si(557) and Si(556) surfaces is discussed. The formation conditions and atomic structure of regular step systems on clean Si(557) 7 $\times$ 7 and Si(556) 7 $\times$ 7 surfaces are studied. The atomic structure of stepped Si(hhm), Ag/Si(557), and Gd/Si(557) surfaces is studied using high-resolution scanning tunneling microscopy and low-energy electron diffraction. The possibility of fabricating 1D and 2D structures of gadolinium and silver atoms on the Si(557) surface is demonstrated.