Formation of one-dimensional self-assembled silicon nanoribbons on Au(110)-(2x1)

TL;DR

This study demonstrates the self-assembly of flat, one-dimensional silicon nanoribbons on Au(110)-(2x1) surfaces, revealing their structure, orientation, and chemical environments using LEED, STM, and spectroscopy.

Contribution

It reports the formation and detailed characterization of silicon nanoribbons on Au(110), a novel self-assembled nanostructure under ultra-high vacuum conditions.

Findings

Silicon nanoribbons are flat and approximately 1.6 nm wide.

Nanoribbons are oriented along the [-110] direction.

Distinct chemical environments are observed at the edges and centers of the ribbons.

Abstract

We report results on the self-assembly of silicon nanoribbons on the (2x1) reconstructed Au(110) surface under ultra-high vacuum conditions. Upon adsorption of 0.2 monolayer (ML) of silicon the (2x1) reconstruction of Au(110) is replaced by an ordered surface alloy. Above this coverage a new superstructure is revealed by low electron energy diffraction (LEED) which becomes sharper at 0.3 Si ML. This superstructure corresponds to Si nanoribbons all oriented along the [-110] direction as revealed by LEED and scanning tunneling microscopy (STM). STM and high-resolution photoemission spectroscopy indicate that the nanoribbons are flat and predominantly 1.6 nm wide. In addition the silicon atoms show signatures of two chemical environments corresponding to the edge and center of the ribbons.