Superstructure evolution of tellurium atoms on Au(111) surface at different coverages

TL;DR

This study explores how tellurium atoms form various superstructures on Au(111) surfaces at different coverages, revealing new chiral and honeycomb structures and their electronic properties through microscopy and spectroscopy.

Contribution

It provides a systematic analysis of tellurium superstructure evolution on Au(111), identifying new chiral and honeycomb phases and their stability conditions.

Findings

Formation of 1D root3 R30° chains at 0.10 ML

Observation of two 2D chiral structures near 1/3 ML

Emergence of a honeycomb superstructure at 4/9 ML

Abstract

We systematically investigated the superstructure evolution of Te atoms on Au(111) substrate at different coverages. As revealed by low temperature scanning tunneling microscopy and spectroscopy, Te atoms form one-dimensional root3 R30{\deg} chains near 0.10 monolayer (ML). Two two-dimensional chiral structures, (root111*root111)R4.7{\deg} and (3root21*3root21)R10.9{\deg}, can be formed and their stability can be tuned by slightly adjusting the Te coverge near 1/3 ML. A honeycomb-like superstructure is observed by further increasing the coverage to 4/9 ML. An interfacial state emerges at ~-0.65 eV due to Te adsorption on Au(111). The formation of these Te-induced high-order superstructures is accompanied by relaxation of gold atoms in the surface layer, indicating the strong Te-Au interaction.