Related papers: Multi-step atomic reaction enhanced by an atomic f…

We present first-principles total-energy electronic-structure calculations that provide the microscopic mechanism of the Ag atom diffusion between the half unit cells (HUCs) on the Si(111)-(7x7) surface with and without the tip of the…

Using density functional theory (DFT), we calculate the magnetic short-ranged exchange forces between a magnetic tip and an adatom adsorbed on the antiferromagnetic Mn monolayer on the W(110) surface [Mn/W(110)]. These exchange forces can…

We propose that the indirect adatom-adatom interaction mediated by the conduction electrons of a metallic surface is responsible for the $\sqrt{3}\times \sqrt{3}\Leftrightarrow 3\times 3$ structural phase transitions observed in Sn/Ge (111)…

To understand the recently observed mysterious non-adiabatic energy transfer for hyperthermal H atom scattering from a semiconductor surface, Ge(111)c(2*8), we present a mixed quantum-classical non-adiabatic molecular dynamics model based…

Well-ordered stepped semiconductor surfaces attract intense attention owing to the regular arrangements of their atomic steps that makes them perfect templates for the growth of one- dimensional systems, e.g. nanowires. Here, we report on…

The point contact of a tunnel tip approaching towards Ag(111) and Cu(111) surfaces is investigated with a low temperature scanning tunneling microscope. A sharp jump-to-contact, random in nature, is observed in the conductance. After point…

For a set of fcc metals our total energy calculations, based on many body potentials, show that activation barriers for lateral manipulation of an adatom at a step edge depend on the tip/substrate composition. Of the six homogeneous systems…

Atomic force microscopy (AFM) is a mechanical profiling technique that allows to image surfaces with atomic resolution. Recent progress in reducing the noise of this technique has led to a resolution level where previously undetectable…

Surface-state mediated interactions between adsorbates on surfaces can be exploited for the fabrication of self-organized nanostructures such as two-dimensional superlattices of adatoms. Using angle-resolved photoemission we provide…

We report scanning tunneling microscopy observations of Ge deposited on the Si(111)-7x7 surface for a sequence of sub-monolayer coverages. We demonstrate that Ge atoms replace so-called Si adatoms. Initially, the replacements are random,…

Employing first principles total energy calculations we have studied the behavior of Ga and Al adatoms on the GaAs(001)-beta2 surface. The adsorption site and two relevant diffusion channels are identified. The channels are characterized by…

Knowledge of surface forces is the key to understanding a large number of processes in fields ranging from physics to material science and biology. The most common method to study surfaces is dynamic atomic force microscopy (AFM). Dynamic…

Using total energy calculations, based on interaction potentials from the embedded atom method, we show that the presence of the tip not only lowers the barrier for lateral diffusion of the adatom towards it, but also shifts the…

The puzzling experimental observations of Ag addimer formation on the Si(100) surface upon vapor deposition at low temperature, even as low as 140 K, reported by Huang et al. [Phys. Chem. Chem. Phys. 2021, 23, 4161], is explained by facile…

Using the plane wave pseudopotential method we performed density functional theory calculations on the stability of steps and self-diffusion processes on Ag(100). Our calculated step formation energies show that the {111}-faceted step is…

Interfaces between a bulk-insulating topological insulator (TI) and metallic adatoms have been studied using high-resolution, angle-resolved and core-level photoemission. Fe, Nb and Ag were evaporated onto Bi1.5Sb0.5Te1.7Se1.3 (BSTS)…

It has been shown that electron transitions, as measured in a scanning tunnelling microscope (STM), are related to chemical interactions in a tunnelling barrier. Here, we show that the shape and apparent height of subatomic features in an…

Atoms or pairs of ions picked up by probe tips used in dynamic force microscopy (DFM) can be strongly displaced and even hop discontinuously upon approach to the sample surface. The energy barriers for some of those hops are of the right…

We report on total-energy electronic structure calculations in the density-functional theory performed for the ultra-thin atomic layers of Si on Ag(111) surfaces. We find several distinct stable silicene structures:…

In atomic force microscopy (AFM) tip-surface interactions are usually considered as functions of the tip position only, so-called force curves. However, tip-surface interactions often depend on the tip velocity and the past tip trajectory.…