Si(5 5 12)-2×1 surface, which attracts much attention for one-dimensional (1-D) metal nanowire growth on the surface, usually appears wider area single domain with well ordered 1-D structure. In this work, phenomenon of the facets observed on the Si(5 5 12) surface is studied systemically by using ultra high vacuum scanning tunneling microscopy. On the well defined Si(5 5 12) surface, in addition to (1 1 3) facet and (6 9 17) facet, some components (and/or facets) can be observed on the surface as well, such as (7 7 17), (3 3 7), (1 1 2), (1 1 1)-5×5, (1 1 1)-7×7. It is considered that the surface orientations from Si(7 7 17) to (5 5 12), are stable and have almost the same surface free energy, i.e. it is weak anisotropic on the γ-plot. But the (3 3 7), (1 1 2), (1 1 1)-5×5, and (1 1 1)-7×7 facets are appeared to be confined delicately by the surface tensions and the driving force of the single domain growth of the stable surface and facet, which is accompanied by the process of the reconstruction of the surface. Acknowledgement: This work was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (10964014 and 10864008).

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