Electronic Structures of Molecular Beam Epitaxially Grown SnSe<sub>2</sub> Thin Films on <inline-formula><math display="inline"><semantics><mrow><msqrt><mn mathvariant="bold">3</mn></msqrt><mo mathvariant="bold">×</mo><msqrt><mn mathvariant="bold">3</mn></msqrt></mrow></semantics></math></inline-formula>-Sn Reconstructed Si(111) Surface

SnSe<sub>2</sub>, as a prominent member of the post-transition metal dichalcogenides, exhibits many intriguing physical phenomena and excellent thermoelectric properties, calling for both fundamental study and potential application in two-dimensional (2D) devices. In this article, we rea...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Zhujuan Li, Qichao Tian, Kaili Wang, Yuyang Mu, Zhenjie Fan, Xiaodong Qiu, Qinghao Meng, Can Wang, Yi Zhang
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-05-01
Series:Applied Sciences
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/15/11/6150
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
Description
Summary:SnSe<sub>2</sub>, as a prominent member of the post-transition metal dichalcogenides, exhibits many intriguing physical phenomena and excellent thermoelectric properties, calling for both fundamental study and potential application in two-dimensional (2D) devices. In this article, we realized the molecular beam epitaxial growth of SnSe<sub>2</sub> films on a <inline-formula><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" display="inline"><semantics><mrow><msqrt><mn>3</mn></msqrt><mo>×</mo><msqrt><mn>3</mn></msqrt></mrow></semantics></math></inline-formula>-Sn reconstructed Si(111) surface. The analysis of reflection high-energy electron diffraction reveals the in-plane lattice orientation as SnSe<sub>2</sub>[110]//<inline-formula><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" display="inline"><semantics><mrow><msqrt><mn>3</mn></msqrt></mrow></semantics></math></inline-formula>-Sn [112]//Si [110]. In addition, the flat morphology of SnSe<sub>2</sub> film was identified by scanning tunneling microscopy (STM), implying the relatively strong adsorption effect of <inline-formula><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" display="inline"><semantics><mrow><msqrt><mn>3</mn></msqrt></mrow></semantics></math></inline-formula>-Sn/Si(111) substrate to the SnSe<sub>2</sub> adsorbates. Subsequently, the interfacial charge transfer was observed by X-ray photoemission spectroscopy. Afterwards, the direct characterization of electronic structures was obtained via angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy. In addition to proving the presence of interfacial charge transfer again, a new relatively flat in-gap band was found in monolayer and few-layer SnSe<sub>2</sub>, which disappeared in multi-layer SnSe<sub>2</sub>. The interface strain-induced partial structural phase transition of thin SnSe<sub>2</sub> films is presumed to be the reason. Our results provide important information on the characterization and effective modulation of electronic structures of SnSe<sub>2</sub> grown on <inline-formula><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" display="inline"><semantics><mrow><msqrt><mn>3</mn></msqrt></mrow></semantics></math></inline-formula>-Sn/Si(111), paving the way for the further study and application of SnSe<sub>2</sub> in 2D electronic devices.
ISSN:2076-3417