Self-assembly, structure and electronic properties of a quasiperiodic lead monolayer

TL;DR

This study reports the formation of a quasiperiodic lead monolayer on an Al-Pd-Mn quasicrystal surface, revealing a self-assembled pentagonal network with electronic properties influenced by quasiperiodicity.

Contribution

It demonstrates the growth and structure of a quasiperiodic Pb monolayer and links its electronic properties to its quasiperiodic structure, using spectroscopy techniques.

Findings

Pb monolayer forms a pentagonal network with tau-inflated elements

The monolayer exhibits a pseudo-gap at the Fermi level

Electronic structure is directly related to quasiperiodic order

Abstract

A quasiperiodic Pb monolayer has been formed on the five-fold surface of the Al-Pd-Mn quasicrystal. Growth of the monolayer proceeds via self-assembly of an interconnected network of pentagonal Pb stars, which are shown to be tau-inflated compared to similar structural elements of the quasiperiodic substrate. Measurements of the electronic structure of the system using scanning tunnelling spectroscopy and ultra-violet photoemission spectroscopy reveal that the Pb monolayer displays a pseudo-gap at the Fermi level which is directly related to its quasiperiodic structure.