Surface vibrational modes of alpha-quartz(0001) probed by sum-frequency spectroscopy.

Infrared-visible sum-frequency spectroscopy was used to probe surface vibrations of alpha-quartz(0001) under ambient conditions. Two modes at 880 and 980 cm(-1) were observed and identified as arising from Si-O-Si and Si-OH structures of the surface. Heat treatment and hydroxylation could convert Si-OH to Si-O-Si and vice versa. The technique is generally applicable to studies of surface phonons of other oxides, semiconductors, and insulators.