Growth of Si ultrathin films on silver surfaces: Evidence of an Ag(110) reconstruction induced by Si

Romain Bernard (1) , Thomas Leoni (2) , Axel Wilson (3, 1) , Tony Lelaidier (4) , Houda Sahaf (4) , Eric Moyen (4) , Loïc Assaud (2) , Lionel Santinacci (4) , Frédéric Leroy (5) , Fabien Cheynis (4) , Alain Ranguis (2) , Haik Jamgotchian (4) , Conrad Becker (4) , Yves Borensztein (1) , Margrit Hanbücken (4) , Geoffroy Prévot (1) , Laurence Masson (2)

1 INSP-E6 - Physico-chimie et dynamique des surfaces
2 AMU - Aix Marseille Université
3 SSOLEIL - Synchrotron SOLEIL
4 CINaM - Centre Interdisciplinaire de Nanoscience de Marseille
5 L'Oréal Recherche - L'Oréal Recherche France

We report here in situ measurements of the evolution of the Ag(110) surface during Si growth, using scanning tunneling microscopy and grazing incidence x-ray diffraction. We provide compelling evidence of an Ag(110) surface reconstruction associated with the release of Ag atoms induced by the growth of Si nanoribbons. Our results are in agreement with a missing row reconstruction of the Ag layer underneath the nanoribbons. This challenges the current understanding of the Si growth on nonreconstructed Ag(110), interpreted within the framework of silicene models.

Domains: Physics [physics]; Condensed Matter [cond-mat]; Materials Science [cond-mat.mtrl-sci]; Physics [physics]; Physics [physics]; Chemical Physics [physics.chem-ph]

Romain Bernard, Thomas Leoni, Axel Wilson, Tony Lelaidier, Houda Sahaf, et al.. Growth of Si ultrathin films on silver surfaces: Evidence of an Ag(110) reconstruction induced by Si. Physical Review B: Condensed Matter and Materials Physics (1998-2015), 2013, 88 (12), ⟨10.1103/PhysRevB.88.121411⟩. ⟨hal-02024029⟩