We studied structural and dynamical properties of tin chains grown on the Si(100)-2x1 surface by the scanning tunnelling microscopy at different temperatures. A single line scanning method was used to record the evolution of the chains with one atom precision.
The binding energies of the tin atoms at the ends of the chains were obtained from measurements of their mean lifetime as a function of the temperature. The role of the C-type defects was studied.
They were found to be preferential adsorption sites of tin adatoms and the binding energy of Sn atom to the C-type defect was estimated.