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The effect of 3,4,9,10-perylenetetracarboxylic dianhydride (PTCDA) adsorption on the physical properties of the two-dimensional (2D) atomic layer superconductor (ALSC) In/Si(111)-(7×3) has been studied by angle-resolved photoelectron spectroscopy, transport measurements, and scanning tunneling microscopy. Hole doping from the adsorbed molecules has been reported to increase the superconducting transition temperature Tc of this ALSC, and the molecular spin tends to decrease it. Owing to its large electron affinity and its nonexistent spin state, the adsorption of PTCDA was expected to increase Tc. However, the PTCDA adsorption dopes only a small number of holes in the In layers and causes a suppression of Tc with a sharp increase in the normal-state sheet resistance followed by an insulating transition. Taking the disordering of the arrangement of PTCDA into account, we conclude that the increase in resistance is due to the localization effect originating from the random potential that is induced by the disordered PTCDA molecules. The present result also indicates the importance of the crystallinity of a 2D molecular film adsorbed on ALSCs.

We report a study of the atomic and electronic structures of the ordered Ag2Ge surface alloy containing ⅓ monolayer of Ge. Low-energy electron diffraction (LEED), scanning tunneling microscopy (STM), and angle-resolved photoelectron spectroscopy (ARPES) data reveal a symmetry breaking of the expected √3 × √3 periodicity, which is established for other Ag2M alloys (M = Bi, Sb, Pb, and Sn). The deviation from a simple √3 × √3 structure manifests itself as a splitting of diffraction spots in LEED, as a striped structure with a 6× periodicity including a distortion of the local hexagonal structure in STM, and as a complex surface band structure in ARPES that is quite different from those of the other Ag2M alloys. These results are interesting in view of the differences in the atomic and electronic structures exhibited by different group IV elements interacting with Ag(111). Pb and Sn form √3 × √3 surface alloys on Ag(111), of which Ag2Pb shows a surface band structure with a clear spin-orbit split. Si and C form silicene and graphene structures, respectively, with linear band dispersions and the formation of Dirac cones as reported for graphene. The finding that Ag2Ge deviates from the ideal (√3 × √3) Ag2Sn and Ag2Pb surface alloys makes Ge an interesting “link” between the heavy group IV elements (Sn, Pb) and the light group IV elements (Si, C).

We have employed first principles density functional theory (DFT) based calculations (WIEN2k) to study the electronic and atomic structures of the reconstruction induced by Ag on Si(111) and Ge(111). The Ag/Si(111) surface, in particular, has acted as a model system when it comes to the interaction between adsorbed metals and semiconductor surfaces. Two models have been studied, i.e., the honeycomb-chained-triangle (HCT) and the in-equivalenttriangle (IET) model. The band structures of these models were calculated using density functional theory within the generalized gradient approximation (GGA) and the local density approximation (LDA). The band structures calculated from the fully relaxed versions of the two models were found to be quite similar except for the occupancy of the free electron like band at the - point. The IET model gives a slightly lower energy minimum compared to the HCT model for both Si and Ge. Further, we find that the energy minima are deeper for Ge when comparing the results with Si for the HCT and IET models, respectively. The theoretical surface band structure is qualitatively in good general agreement with the experimental dispersions of the main surface states, while the theoretical band widths are approximately half of the experimental ones. The calculated band structures show a gap between the two uppermost, fully occupied, bands at the - point only when the IET model is used to account for the electron

It is found that 1/3 monolayer (ML) of Sn forms a surface alloy with 2/3 ML of Ag on Ag(111). This highly ordered alloy layer shows a √3×√3 structure. By employing experimental and theoretical tools (scanning tunneling microscopy [STM], angle resolved photoelectron spectroscopy, low-energy electron diffraction, and density functional theory), an atomic model has been obtained that reproduces the experimental electronic structure in both real and reciprocal space. Detailed surface band dispersions, constant energy contours, and STM images, obtained experimentally and theoretically, are compared in order to verify the model. Similar, 1-layer-thick alloys on Ag(111) with Pb, Bi, or Sb exhibit measurable spin–orbit interactions. However, no such spin split could be detected in the case of Sn in this study., Funding Agencies|Swedish Research Council|621-2010-37462008-6582|Knut and Alice Wallenberg Foundation

The addition of the valley degree of freedom to a two-dimensional spin-polarized electronic system provides the opportunity to multiply the functionality of next-generation devices. So far, however, such devices have not been realized due to the difficulty to polarize the valleys, which is an indispensable step to activate this degree of freedom. Here we show the formation of 100% spin-polarized valleys by a simple and easy way using the Rashba effect on a system with C-3 symmetry. This polarization, which is much higher than those in ordinary Rashba systems, results in the valleys acting as filters that can suppress the backscattering of spin-charge. The present system is formed on a silicon substrate, and therefore opens a new avenue towards the realization of silicon spintronic devices with high efficiency., Funding Agencies|G-COE programs|G-03|National Research Foundation of Korea through the Center for Low Dimensional Electronic Symmetry|2012R1A3A2026380|SRC Center for Topological Materials|2011-0030789||20244045||25287070

The existence of a highly ordered, two-dimensional, Sn/Ag alloy on Si(111) is reported in this study. We present detailed atomic and electronic structures of the one atomic layer thick alloy, exhibiting a 2 x 2 periodicity. The electronic structure is metallic due to a free-electron-like surface band dispersing across the Fermi level. By electron doping, the electronic structure can be converted into a semiconducting state. A rotated Sn trimer constitutes the key structural element that could be identified by a detailed analysis of constant energy contours derived from the free-electron-like band., Funding Agencies|Swedish Research Council|621-2010-37462008-6582|Linkoping Linnaeus Initiative for Novel Functional Materials (LiLi-NFM)||Knut and Alice Wallenberg foundation (KAW)

Atomic hydrogen exposures on a monolayer graphene grown on the SiC(0001) surface are shown to result in hydrogen intercalation. The hydrogen intercalation induces a transformation of the monolayer graphene and the carbon buffer layer to bi-layer graphene without a buffer layer. The STM, LEED, and core-level photoelectron spectroscopy measurements reveal that hydrogen atoms can go underneath the graphene and the carbon buffer layer and bond to Si atoms at the substrate interface. This transforms the buffer layer into a second graphene layer. Hydrogen exposure results initially in the formation of bi-layer graphene islands on the surface. With larger atomic hydrogen exposures, the islands grow in size and merge until the surface is fully covered with bi-layer graphene. A (root 3 x root 3)R30 degrees periodicity is observed on the bi-layer areas. ARPES and energy filtered XPEEM investigations of the electron band structure confirm that after hydrogenation the single pi-band characteristic of monolayer graphene is replaced by two pi-bands that represent bi-layer graphene. Annealing an intercalated sample, representing bi-layer graphene, to a temperature of 850 degrees C. or higher, re-establishes the monolayer graphene with a buffer layer on SiC(0001)., Funding Agencies|Swedish National Energy Administration

We have performed a detailed study of the formation and the atomic structure of a root 3 x root 3 surface on Si/Ge(111) using both scanning tunneling microscopy (STM) and low energy electron diffraction (LEED). Both experimental methods confirm the presence of a root 3 x root 3 periodicity but unlike the Sn/Ge(111) and the Sn/Si(111) surfaces, the Si/Ge(111) surface is not well ordered. There is no long range order on the surface and the root 3 x root 3 reconstruction is made up of double rows of silicon atoms separated by disordered areas composed of germanium atoms.

The influence of substrate orientation on the morphology of graphene growth on 6H-SiC(0 0 0 1) was investigated using low-energy electron and scanning tunneling microscopy (LEEM and STM). Large area monolayer graphene was successfully furnace-grown on these substrates. Larger terrace widths and smaller step heights were obtained on substrates with a smaller mis-orientation from on-axis (0.03 degrees) than on those with a larger (0.25 degrees). Two different types of a carbon atom networks, honeycomb and three-for-six arrangement, were atomically resolved in the graphene monolayer. These findings are of relevance for various potential applications based on graphene-SiC structures.

Advancement in nanotechnology to a large extent depends on the ability to manipulate materials at the atomistic level, including positioning single atoms on the active sites of the surfaces of interest, promoting strong chemical bonding. Here, we report a long-time confinement of a single Ag atom inside a corner hole (CH) of the technologically relevant Si(111)-7x7surface, which has comparable size as a fullerene C₆₀ molecule with a single dangling bond at the bottom center. Experiments reveal that a set of 17 Ag atoms stays entrapped in the CH for the entire duration of experiment, 4 days and 7 hours. Warming up the surface to about 150 °C degrees forces the Ag atoms out of the CH within a few minutes. The processes of entrapment and diffusion are temperature dependent. Theoretical calculations based on density functional theory support the experimental results confirming the highest adsorption energy at the CH for the Ag atom, and suggest that other elements such as Li, Na, Cu, Au, F and I may display similar behavior. The capability of atomic manipulation at room temperature makes this effect particularly attractive for building single atom devices and possibly developing new engineering and nano-manufacturing methods.

Scanning tunneling microscopy (STM) was used to study the room temperature (RT) √3x√3 and the low temperature (LT) 3x3 surfaces of Sn/Ge(111). The Sn/Ge(111)√3x√3 surface was prepared under different conditions. Nine sample preparations were performed with various Sn coverage and annealing treatments. The conditions that produced the best √3x√3 surface (low defect density and minimal area covered by islands and disorder) were: i) Sn coverage of 0.38 ML, ii) sample temperature slightly above that corresponding to the c(2x8) to 1x1 transition. This optimum preparation was used for the STM study of the LT 3x3 phase. The apparent height distribution of the Sn atoms in the 3x3 phase was analysed in detail and discussed in relation to the Sn 4d core-level line shape. Two peaks were observed in the apparent height distribution of the Sn atoms corresponding to the up and down atoms constituting the 3x3 reconstruction. Simulated Sn 4d core-level spectra were generated from the distribution by assuming a linear relation between the apparent height and the core-level binding energy. The simulated spectra are compared to experimental spectra appearing in the literature.