We report on the self-assembly of a superlattice of nanodots of different elements (Sn,In) on a $\mathrm{Si}\mathrm{}\left(111\right)-(7\mathrm{}\times 7)$ template surface, observed with a scanning tunneling microscope. The formation of nanodots is a feature of the $\mathrm{Si}\mathrm{}\left(111\right)-(7\mathrm{}\times 7)$ surface, and a characteristic of adsorbates of different valency. In this paper, we examine the evolution of these nanodots with increasing coverage to understand the clustering mechanism, their microstructure, and electronic properties. The results are discussed in the light of current theories of the interaction mechanism(s) guiding the formation of these nanodots.

• Received 11 July 2000

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevB.64.085321