Resolving the structure of the striped Ge layer on Ag(111):Ag2Ge surface alloy with alternate fcc and hcp domains

K. Zhang, D. Sciacca, A. Coati, R. Bernard, Y. Borensztein, P. Diener, B. Grandidier, I. Lefebvre, M. Derivaz, C. Pirri, and G. Prévot
Phys. Rev. B 104, 155403 – Published 4 October 2021
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Abstract

Two-dimensional honeycomb lattices beyond graphene, such as germanene, promise new physical properties such as quantum spin Hall effect. While there have been many claims of growth of germanene, the lack of precise structural characterization of the epitaxial layers synthesized hinders further research. The striped layer formed by Ge deposition on Ag(111) has been recently ascribed as a stretched germanene layer. Using surface x-ray diffraction and density-functional theory calculations, we demonstrate that it corresponds in fact to a Ag2Ge surface alloy with an atomic density 6.45% higher than the Ag(111) atomic density. The overall structure is formed by stripes associated with a face-centered cubic top-layer alignment, alternating with stripes associated with a hexagonal close-packed top-layer alignment, in great analogy with the (22×3) Au(111) reconstruction.

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  • Received 11 June 2021
  • Revised 6 September 2021
  • Accepted 10 September 2021

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevB.104.155403

©2021 American Physical Society

Physics Subject Headings (PhySH)

Condensed Matter, Materials & Applied Physics

Authors & Affiliations

K. Zhang1, D. Sciacca2, A. Coati3, R. Bernard1, Y. Borensztein1, P. Diener2, B. Grandidier2, I. Lefebvre2, M. Derivaz4, C. Pirri4, and G. Prévot1

  • 1Sorbonne Université, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Institut des NanoSciences de Paris, INSP, F-75005 Paris, France
  • 2Univ. Lille, CNRS, Centrale Lille, Univ. Polytechnique Hauts-de-France, Junia-ISEN, UMR 8520-IEMN, F-59000 Lille, France
  • 3Synchrotron SOLEIL, L’Orme des Merisiers Saint-Aubin, BP 48 91192 Gif-sur-Yvette Cedex, France
  • 4Institut de Science des Matériaux de Mulhouse IS2M UMR 7361 CNRS-Université de Haute Alsace, 3 bis rue Alfred Werner, 68057 Mulhouse, France

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Issue

Vol. 104, Iss. 15 — 15 October 2021

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