Growth of silicene layers on Ag(111): unexpected effect of the substrate temperature

TL;DR

This study investigates how substrate temperature influences the formation of various silicene-like layers on Ag(111), revealing multiple superstructures with different orientations and predicting a new superstructure not yet observed.

Contribution

It provides a detailed analysis of silicene layer structures on Ag(111), highlighting the temperature-dependent formation of multiple superstructures and predicting a novel superstructure.

Findings

Multiple superstructures depend on substrate temperature.

All superstructures are based on a honeycomb silicene-like layer.

Prediction of a new ($\sqrt{7} imes\sqrt{7}$)R19.1$^\circ$ superstructure.

Abstract

The deposition of one silicon monolayer on the silver (111) substrate in the temperature range 150-300$^\circ$C, gives rise to a mix of (4$\times$4), ($2\sqrt{3}\times 2\sqrt{3}$)R30$^\circ$ and ($\sqrt{13}\times\sqrt{13}$)R13.9$^\circ$ superstructures which strongly depends on the substrate temperature. We deduced from a detailed analysis of the LEED patterns and the STM images that all these superstructures are given by a quasi identical silicon single layer with a honeycomb structure (i.e. a silicene-like layer) with different rotations relatively to the silver substrate. The STM images morphology are explained from the relative position of the silicon atoms relative to the silver atoms. A complete analysis of all possible rotations of the silicene layer predicts also a ($\sqrt{7}\times\sqrt{7}$)R19.1$^\circ$ superstructure which has not been observed so far.