The components of CdZnTe (1 11) A and B surface were measured by XPS. The result shows that Te atoms at the A topmost surface are chemically bonded by O atoms, but Te atoms are not at B surface. A new reconstruction structure (root 3- x root 3)R30 degrees is uncovered for CZT (111) A surface through low-energy electron diffraction, and is explained in terms of a surface vacancy model. The surface state is measured by Angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy, which confirms that there are dangling bonds at the reconstructed CZT (111) A surface. (c) 2006 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.