Abstract
Low-energy electron diffraction studies of the semiconducting α-Sn(100) surface have shown that this surface is reconstructed with a (2 × 1) mesh and that while the adsorption of atomic hydrogen on this surface leads to some structural rearrangement, the (2 × 1) mesh is retained. These results are compared with the properties of Si(100) and Ge(100) surfaces. In particular, it is proposed that hydrogen adsorption on α-Sn leads to the formation of a monohydride phase.