# 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.

## Key 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.

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Source: https://tomesphere.com/paper/1705.01330