Molecular Beam Epitaxy Growth and Scanning Tunneling Microscopy Study of Pyrite CuSe2 Films on SrTiO3

We perform molecular beam epitaxy growth and scanning tunneling microscopy study of copper diselenide （CuSe2 ） films on SrTiO3 （001）. Using a Se-rich condition, the single-phase pyrite CuSe2 grows in the Stranski-Krastanov （layer-plus-island） mode with a preferential orientation of （111）. Our careful inspection of both the as-grown and post-annealed CuSe2 films at various temperatures invariably shows a Cu-terminated surface, which, depending on the annealing temperature, reconstructs into two distinct structures 2 ×√3 and √x ×√3-R30°. The Cu termi- nation is supported by the depressed density of states near the Fermi level, measured by in-situ low temperature scanning tunneling spectroscopy. Our study helps understand the preparation and surface chemistry of transition metal pyrite dichalcogenides thin films.

The scanning tunneling microscopy and spectroscopy of GaSb_(1-x)Bi_(x) films of a few-nanometer thickness grown by molecular beam epitaxy

The ultrahigh vacuum scanning tunneling microscope(STM)was used to characterize the GaSb_(1-x)Bi_(x) films of a few nanometers thickness grown by the molecular beam epitaxy(MBE)on the GaSb buffer layer of 100 nm with the GaSb(100)substrates.The thickness of the GaSb_(1-x)Bi_(x) layers of the samples are 5 and 10 nm,respectively.For comparison,the GaSb buffer was also characterized and its STM image displays terraces whose surfaces are basically atomically flat and their roughness is generally less than 1 monolayer(ML).The surface of 5 nm GaSb_(1-x)Bi_(x) film reserves the same terraced morphology as the buffer layer.In contrast,the morphology of the 10 nm GaSb_(1-x)Bi_(x) film changes to the mound-like island structures with a height of a few MLs.The result implies the growth mode transition from the two-dimensional mode as displayed by the 5 nm film to the Stranski-Krastinov mode as displayed by the 10 nm film.The statistical analysis with the scanning tunneling spectroscopy(STS)measurements indicates that both the incorporation and the inhomogeneity of Bi atoms increase with the thickness of the GaSb_(1-x)Bi_(x) layer.

Epitaxial Ge Growth on Si(111) Covered with Ultrathin SiO₂Films

The epitaxial growth of Ge on Si(111) covered with the 0.3 nm thick SiO2 film is studied by scanning tunneling microscopy. Nanoareas of bare Si in the SiO2 film are prepared by Ge deposition at a temperature in the range of 570℃-650℃ due to the formation of volatile SiO and GeO molecules. The surface morphology of Ge layers grown further at 360℃-500℃ is composed of facets and large flat areas with the Ge(111)-c(2 × 8) reconstruction which is typical of unstrained Ge. Orientations of the facets, which depend on the growth temperature, are identified. The growth at 250℃-300℃ produces continuous epitaxial Ge layers on Si(111). A comparison of the surface morphology of Ge layers grown on bare and SiO2-film covered Si(111) surfaces shows a significantly lower Ge-Si intermixing in the latter case due to a reduction in the lattice strain. The found approach to reduce the strain suggests the opportunity of the thin continuous epitaxial Ge layer formation on Si(111).

Growth of Mn_5Ge_3 ultrathin film on Ge(111)

The growth of Mn5Ge3 ultrathin films with different thicknesses, prepared by solid phase epitaxy, is studied. The results of scanning tunnelling microscopy and low energy electron diffraction studies show that the film can be formed and it is terminated with a （√3 × √3） R30° surface reconstruction when the thickness of Mn exceeds 3 monolayers. The magnetic properties show that the Curie temperature is about 300 K and the T^2-dependent behaviour is observed to remain up to 220 K.

Fabrication and properties of silicene and silicene–graphene layered structures on Ir(111)

Silicene, a two-dimensional(2D) honeycomb structure similar to graphene, has been successfully fabricated on various substrates. This work will mainly review the syntheses and the corresponding prope√rties o√f silicene and√ silice√ne–graphene layered structures on Ir(111) substrates. For silicene on Ir(111), the buckled(3 ×3) silicene/(7 ×7)Ir(111) configuration and its electronic structure are fully discussed. For silicene–graphene layered structures, silicene layer can be constructed underneath graphene layer by an intercalation method. These results indicate the possibility of integrating silicene with graphene and may link up with potential applications in nanoelectronics and related areas.

Adsorption behavior of iron phthalocyanine on a Ag(110) surface

An investigation on the growth behavior of FePc on a Ag （110） surface is carried out by using scanning tunneling microscopy （STM）. At an FePc coverage of 3.5 ML, an ordered superstructure （densely packed） with a lateral shift is observed. The densely packed superstructure can be attributed to the substrate commensuration and the intermolecular van der Waals attractive interaction. The in-plane lateral shift in the superphase is specifically along the direction of [110] azimuth. The results provide a new perspective to understanding the intermolecular and the molecule-substrate interactions.

Phase transition-induced superstructures ofβ-Sn films with atomic-scale thickness

The ultrathinβ-Sn(001)films have attracted tremendous attention owing to its topological superconductivity(TSC),which hosts Majorana bound state(MBSs)for quantum computation.Recently,β-Sn(001)thin films have been successfully fabricated via phase transition engineering.However,the understanding of structural phase transition ofβ-Sn(001)thin films is still elusive.Here,we report the direct growth of ultrathinβ-Sn(001)films epitaxially on the highly oriented pyrolytic graphite(HOPG)substrate and the characterization of intricate structural-transition-induced superstructures.The morphology was obtained by using atomic force microscopy(AFM)and low-temperature scanning tunneling microscopy(STM),indicating a structure-related bilayer-by-bilayer growth mode.The ultrathinβ-Sn film was made of multiple domains with various superstructures.Both high-symmetric and distorted superstructures were observed in the atomic-resolution STM images of these domains.The formation mechanism of these superstructures was further discussed based on the structural phase transition ofβtoα-Sn at the atomic-scale thickness.Our work not only brings a deep understanding of the structural phase transition of Sn film at the two-dimensional limit,but also paves a way to investigate their structure-sensitive topological properties.

Epitaxial fabrication of AgTe monolayer on Ag(111)and the sequential growth of Te film

Transition-metal chalcogenides(TMCs)materials have attracted increasing interest both for fundamental research and industrial applications.Among all these materials,two-dimensional(2D)compounds with honeycomb-like structure possess exotic electronic structures.Here,we report a systematic study of TMC monolayer AgTe fabricated by direct depositing Te on the surface of Ag(111)and annealing.Few intrinsic defects are observed and studied by scanning tunneling microscopy,indicating that there are two kinds of AgTe domains and they can form gliding twin-boundary.Then,the monolayer AgTe can serve as the template for the following growth of Te film.Meanwhile,some Te atoms are observed in the form of chains on the top of the bottom Te film.Our findings in this work might provide insightful guide for the epitaxial growth of 2D materials for study of novel physical properties and for future quantum devices.

Epitaxially grown monolayer VSe2： an air-stable magnetic two-dimensional material with low work function at edges

Recent experimental breakthroughs open up new opportunities for magnetism in few-atomic-layer twodimensional(2 D) materials, which makes fabrication of new magnetic 2 D materials a fascinating issue.Here, we report the growth of monolayer VSe_2 by molecular beam epitaxy(MBE) method. Electronic properties measurements by scanning tunneling spectroscopy(STS) method revealed that the asgrown monolayer VSe_2 has magnetic characteristic peaks in its electronic density of states and a lower work-function at its edges. Moreover, air exposure experiments show air-stability of the monolayer VSe_2. This high-quality monolayer VSe_2, a very air-inert 2 D material with magnetism and low edge work function, is promising for applications in developing next-generation low power-consumption, high efficiency spintronic devices and new electrocatalysts.

Interfacial Charge Transfer in Nanoscale Polymer Transistors

Interfacial charge transfer plays an essential role in establishing the relative alignment of the metal Fermi level and the energy bands of organic semiconductors.While the details remain elusive in many systems,this charge transfer has been inferred in a number of photoemission experiments.We present electronic transport measurements in very short channel(L<100 nm)transistors made from poly(3-hexylthiophene)(P3HT).As channel length is reduced,the evolution of the contact resistance and the zero gate voltage conductance are consistent with such charge transfer.Short channel conduction in devices with Pt contacts is greatly enhanced compared to analogous devices with Au contacts,consistent with charge transfer expectations.Alternating current scanning tunneling microscopy(ACSTM)provides further evidence that holes are transferred from Pt into P3HT,while much less charge transfer takes place at the Au/P3HT interface.

有机半导体外延生长的扫描隧道显微镜研究

有机半导体薄膜的光、电等性质取决于有机分子的取向以及长程有序性.研究有机半导体的生长机理以及内在驱动力是一个重要环节.文章通过两个典型生长体系,perylene在Ru(0001)表面上的生长和tetracene在Ag(110)表面上生长过程的介绍,给出了形成有机半导体晶化薄膜的可能性以及决定其有序生长的内在驱动力.对于perylene在Ru(0001)表面上的生长,决定其过程的主要驱动力是分子间的相互排斥作用,在单分子层时,由于这种相互作用导致形成Ru(0001)-12×12-8 perylene有序超结构.而对于tetracene/Ag(110)体系,决定生长的驱动力主要表现为相互吸引作用,因此,在小于单分子层时,tetracene呈有序的岛状生长;而当tetracene膜的厚度大于单分子层时,呈逐层生长模式,并形成具有正交晶系结构的晶化薄膜.