Combined AFM and STM measurements of a silicene sheet grown on the Ag(111) surface

J Phys Condens Matter. 2013 Jun 5;25(22):225301. doi: 10.1088/0953-8984/25/22/225301. Epub 2013 May 14.

Abstract

In this paper, we present the first non-contact atomic force microscopy (nc-AFM) of a silicene on a silver (Ag) surface, obtained by combining non-contact atomic force microscopy and scanning tunneling microscopy (STM). STM images over large areas of silicene grown on the Ag(111) surface show both (√13 × √13)R13.9° and (4 × 4) superstructures. For the widely observed (4 × 4) structure, the observed nc-AFM image is very similar to the one recorded by STM. The structure resolved by nc-AFM is compatible with only one out of two silicon atoms being visible. This indicates unambiguously a strong buckling of the silicene honeycomb layer.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't