Metal-silicene interaction studied by scanning tunneling microscopy

J Phys Condens Matter. 2016 Jan 27;28(3):034002. doi: 10.1088/0953-8984/28/3/034002. Epub 2015 Dec 24.

Abstract

Ag atoms have been deposited on 3 × 3 silicene and √3 × √3 silicene films by molecular beam epitaxy method in ultrahigh vacuum. Using scanning tunneling microscopy and Raman spectroscopy, we found that Ag atoms do not form chemical bonds with both 3 × 3 silicene and √3 × √3 silicene films, which is due to the chemically inert surface of silicene. On 3 × 3 silicene films, Ag atoms mostly form into stable flat-top Ag islands. In contrast, Ag atoms form nanoclusters and glide on silicene films, suggesting a more inert nature. Raman spectroscopy suggests that there is more sp (2) hybridization in √3 × √3 than in √7 × √7/3 × 3 silicene films.