Silicene on Substrates: A Theoretical Perspective

TL;DR

This paper reviews how different substrates influence the atomic structure and electronic properties of silicene, emphasizing the preservation of its Dirac cone and related quantum effects, from a theoretical perspective.

Contribution

It provides a systematic theoretical analysis of substrate effects on silicene's structure and electronic properties, especially the Dirac cone modifications.

Findings

Substrate interactions can alter silicene's atomic structure.

Substrate effects influence the preservation of the Dirac cone.

Theoretical insights into electronic property changes due to substrates.

Abstract

Silicene, as the silicon analog of graphene, has been successfully fabricated by epitaxial growing on various substrates. Similar to free-standing graphene, free-standing silicene possesses a honeycomb structure and Dirac-cone-shaped energy band, resulting in many fascinating properties such as high carrier mobility, quantum spin Hall effect, quantum anomalous Hall effect, and quantum valley Hall effect. The maintenance of the honeycomb crystal structure and the Dirac cone of silicene is crucial for observation of its intrinsic properties. In this review, we systematically discuss the substrate effects on the atomic structure and electronic properties of silicene from a theoretical point of view, especially focusing on the changes of the Dirac cone.