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High-resolution imaging of silicene on an Ag(111) surface by atomic force microscopy

Jo Onoda, Keisuke Yabuoshi, Hiroki Miyazaki, and Yoshiaki Sugimoto
Phys. Rev. B 96, 241302(R) – Published 11 December 2017
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Abstract

Silicene, a two-dimensional (2D) honeycomb arrangement of Si atoms, is expected to have better electronic properties than graphene and has been mostly synthesized on Ag surfaces. Although scanning tunneling microscopy (STM) has been used for visualizing its atomic structure in real space, the interpretation of STM contrast is not straightforward and only the topmost Si atoms were observed on the (4×4) silicene/Ag(111) surface. Here, we demonstrate that high-resolution atomic force microscopy (AFM) can resolve all constituent Si atoms in the buckled honeycomb arrangement of the (4×4) silicene. Site-specific force spectroscopy attributes the origin of the high-resolution AFM images to chemical bonds between the AFM probe apex and the individual Si atoms on the (4×4) silicene. A detailed analysis of the geometric parameters suggests that the pulling up of lower-buckled Si atoms by the AFM tip could be a key for high-resolution AFM, implying a weakening of the Si-Ag interactions at the interface. We expect that high-resolution AFM will also unveil atomic structures of edges and defects of silicene, or other emerging 2D materials.

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  • Received 21 September 2017
  • Revised 16 November 2017

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevB.96.241302

©2017 American Physical Society

Physics Subject Headings (PhySH)

Condensed Matter, Materials & Applied Physics

Authors & Affiliations

Jo Onoda1,2,*, Keisuke Yabuoshi1, Hiroki Miyazaki1, and Yoshiaki Sugimoto1,2

  • 1Graduate School of Frontier Sciences, University of Tokyo, 5-1-5 Kashiwanoha, Kashiwa, Chiba 277-8561, Japan
  • 2Graduate School of Engineering, Osaka University, 2-1 Yamada-Oka, Suita, Osaka 565-0871, Japan

  • *jonoda@afm.k.u-tokyo.ac.jp

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Issue

Vol. 96, Iss. 24 — 15 December 2017

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