The crystallographic and electronic structures of (root 3 x root 3) Bi-induced reconstructions of Si(553) surface are investigated with reflection high energy electron diffraction (RHEED), scanning tunneling microscopy and angle resolved photoelectron spectroscopy. The alpha and beta (root 3 x root 3) superstructures have been obtained at 1/3 and 1 monolayer of Bi, respectively. RHEED experiments indicate that alpha(root 3 x root 3) is formed on wide (111) terraces separated by (331) facets while the beta(root 3 x root 3) phase stabilizes regular distribution of steps over entire Si(553) surface. In the latter case the double atomic height steps separate Bi- reconstructed (111) terraces of about 3 nminwidth. Only one orientation of (root 3 x root 3) reconstruction is formed as a consequence of broken three- fold symmetry. The electronic structures of both Bi-induced superstructures are similar to the corresponding ones obtained for a flat Si(111) surface. (C) 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.