Self-assembly, structure, and electronic properties of a quasiperiodic lead monolayer

Julian Ledieu (1) , L. Leung (2) , L. H. Wearing (2) , R. Mcgrath (2) , T. A. Lograsso (3) , D. Wu (3) , Vincent Fournée (1)

1 LSG2M - Laboratoire de Science et Génie des Matériaux et de Métallurgie
2 Department of Physics and Surface Science Research Centre
3 Ames Laboratory [Ames, USA]

A quasiperiodic Pb monolayer has been formed on the fivefold surface of the Al-Pd-Mn quasicrystal. Growth of the monolayer proceeds via self-assembly of an interconnected network of pentagonal Pb stars, which are shown to be inflated compared to similar structural elements of the quasiperiodic substrate. Measurements of the electronic structure of the system using scanning tunneling spectroscopy and ultraviolet photoemission spectroscopy reveal that the Pb monolayer displays a pseudogap at the Fermi level which is directly related to its quasiperiodic structure.

Domaines: Science des matériaux [cond-mat.mtrl-sci]

Julian Ledieu, L. Leung, L. H. Wearing, R. Mcgrath, T. A. Lograsso, et al.. Self-assembly, structure, and electronic properties of a quasiperiodic lead monolayer. Physical Review B: Condensed Matter and Materials Physics (1998-2015), 2008, 77 (7), pp.073409. ⟨10.1103/PhysRevB.77.073409⟩. ⟨hal-01665120⟩