English

Atomic and electronic structure of ideal and reconstructed $\alpha$-Sn (111) surface

Condensed Matter 2009-10-28 v1 mtrl-th

Abstract

We have carried out an ab-initio study of α\alpha-Sn (111), with the aim of predicting and understanding its structure, reconstructions, and electronic states. We consider a variety of structural possibilities, and optimize them by moving atoms according to Hellmann-Feynman forces. Our results indicate that the unreconstructed surface is highly unstable, while a variety of reconstructions compete for the true ground state. Extrapolated trends from diamond to Si to Ge are well borne out, with a 2×1π2\times 1 \pi-bonded chain reconstruction prevailing in the absence of adatoms, and a c(4×2)c(4\times 2) or (2×2)(2\times 2) basic adatom-restatom unit reconstruction otherwise. Accompanying surface bucklings are in both cases larger than in Si and Ge, with consequently large ionic charge transfers predicted. Search for a β\beta-Sn-like metallic state of the surface turned out to be inconclusive.

Keywords

Cite

@article{arxiv.cond-mat/9512052,
  title  = {Atomic and electronic structure of ideal and reconstructed $\alpha$-Sn (111) surface},
  author = {Zhong-Yi Lu and Guido L. Chiarotti and S. Scandolo and E. Tosatti},
  journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:cond-mat/9512052},
  year   = {2009}
}

Comments

27 pages,12 Postscript figures,submitted to Phy.Rev.B