Orbitals of Artificial Atoms in a Gapped Two-Dimensional Vacuum

TL;DR

This study visualizes artificial atomic orbitals in a gapped 2D vacuum, revealing both familiar and novel orbitals shaped by the electronic environment, advancing nanotechnology and material design.

Contribution

It demonstrates the existence of new orbitals in artificial atoms influenced by a gapped 2D vacuum, expanding the understanding of orbital structures beyond natural atoms.

Findings

Familiar s and p orbitals are observed in artificial atoms.

New orbitals unique to the gapped 2D vacuum are identified.

Artificial atoms exhibit bonding behaviors similar to natural atoms.

Abstract

Advances in nanotechnology now allow the creation of artificial atoms - engineered structures whose electronic states closely mimic those of real atoms. Understanding how these artificial atoms interact and bond is key to designing new materials with tailored electronic properties. Here, we use scanning tunnelling microscopy to visualise the bound states of nanostructures patterned in a two-dimensional molecular film featuring a parabolic band with multiple partial energy gaps. The lowest-energy states split off from the bottom of the band and resemble the familiar $s$ and $p$ orbitals of natural atoms, even bonding in the same way. Yet, artificial atoms go beyond this analogy: the gapped two-dimensional vacuum in which they reside gives rise to entirely new orbitals with no counterparts in real atoms. These quasi-one-dimensional localised states enrich the orbital vocabulary of chemistry, adding a new class of orbitals that are predominantly shaped by the surrounding electronic vacuum.