Gold-decoration of topographical features at surfaces of synthetic molybdenum disulphide

Abstract

It is confirmed that the gold-decoration technique is capable of revealing monolayer steps of 6.15 Å at molybdenite surfaces; and the supposition that individual vacancies are detectable is strongly supported by the observed orientation of triangular depressions, formed as a result of anisotropic oxidation at vacancies in the surface layer. Stacking faults may also be detected from the orientation of oxidation-etch pits, and the nature of the stacking faults, involving one or more infractions to the regular stacking sequence, is discussed.