Surface diffusion of Pb atoms on the Si(553)-Au surface in narrow quasi-one-dimensional channels

P. Nita, K. Palotás, M. Jałochowski, and M. Krawiec
Phys. Rev. B 89, 165426 – Published 28 April 2014

Abstract

The one-dimensional diffusion of individual Pb atoms on the Si(553)-Au surface has been investigated by a combination of scanning tunneling microscopy (STM), spectroscopy (STS), and first-principles density functional theory. The obtained results unambiguously prove that the diffusion channels are limited to a narrow region between Au chains and step edges of the surface. Much wider channels observed in STM and STS data have electronic origin and result from an interaction of Pb with surface atoms. The length of the channels is determined by a distance between defects at step edges of the Si(553)-Au surface. The defects can act as potential barriers or potential wells for Pb atoms, depending on their origin.

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  • Received 28 January 2014

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevB.89.165426

©2014 American Physical Society

Authors & Affiliations

P. Nita

  • Instituto Madrileno de Estudios Avanzados en Nanociencia (IMDEA Nanociencia), Campus Universitario de Cantoblanco, Calle Faraday 9, 28049 Madrid, Spain

K. Palotás

  • Department of Theoretical Physics, Budapest University of Technology and Economics, Budafoki út 8., H-1111 Budapest, Hungary and Condensed Matter Research Group of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences, Budafoki út 8., H-1111 Budapest, Hungary

M. Jałochowski and M. Krawiec*

  • Institute of Physics, M. Curie-Skłodowska University, Pl. M. Curie-Skłodowskiej 1, 20-031 Lublin, Poland

  • *mariusz.krawiec@umcs.pl

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Vol. 89, Iss. 16 — 15 April 2014

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