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Localized trimers inducing metallic states in sub-monolayer thin Bi films on InSb(111)A

Yadav, Rohit LU orcid ; Benter, Sandra LU and Timm, Rainer LU orcid (2025) In Physical Review Materials 9(6).
Abstract
Low-dimensional topological states have transformed our understanding of charge transportation through quantum materials. Many relevant observations have been connected to bismuth (Bi) containing materials or ultrathin Bi films. Here, we studied sub-monolayer amounts of Bi deposition on the In-terminated InSb(111)A surface using various complementary surface science techniques. Bi deposition at elevated sample temperature results in well-ordered (2×2) and (2√3×2√3)−R⁢30∘ surface reconstructions. Scanning tunneling microscopy/spectroscopy (STM/S) data show an enhanced density of states at the interface of the two reconstructions and local Bi trimers over the (2×2) reconstructed surface. Bi-induced metallic surface states crossing the Fermi... (More)
Low-dimensional topological states have transformed our understanding of charge transportation through quantum materials. Many relevant observations have been connected to bismuth (Bi) containing materials or ultrathin Bi films. Here, we studied sub-monolayer amounts of Bi deposition on the In-terminated InSb(111)A surface using various complementary surface science techniques. Bi deposition at elevated sample temperature results in well-ordered (2×2) and (2√3×2√3)−R⁢30∘ surface reconstructions. Scanning tunneling microscopy/spectroscopy (STM/S) data show an enhanced density of states at the interface of the two reconstructions and local Bi trimers over the (2×2) reconstructed surface. Bi-induced metallic surface states crossing the Fermi level are observed and attributed exclusively to the localized trimer states through STS and angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy (ARPES) results. Furthermore, the ARPES spectra show band splitting at the Γ point and degenerate surface states at the M point, which is associated with Rashba splitting due to strong Bi-substrate interaction. Thus we interpret the Bi/InSb(111)A, exhibiting spin-split metallic surface states induced by localized Bi structures, as a promising candidate for exploring low-dimensional states and spin dynamics in future quantum materials. (Less)
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author
; and
organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
keywords
Spin-orbit coupling, Epitaxial growth, topological, localized state
in
Physical Review Materials
volume
9
issue
6
pages
64204 pages
publisher
American Physical Society
ISSN
2475-9953
DOI
10.1103/mp9b-hgz1
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
584bd7f9-4aac-4c01-9e94-2dba2c83c782
date added to LUP
2025-06-27 14:30:36
date last changed
2025-06-30 08:28:57
@article{584bd7f9-4aac-4c01-9e94-2dba2c83c782,
  abstract     = {{Low-dimensional topological states have transformed our understanding of charge transportation through quantum materials. Many relevant observations have been connected to bismuth (Bi) containing materials or ultrathin Bi films. Here, we studied sub-monolayer amounts of Bi deposition on the In-terminated InSb(111)A surface using various complementary surface science techniques. Bi deposition at elevated sample temperature results in well-ordered (2×2) and (2√3×2√3)−R⁢30∘ surface reconstructions. Scanning tunneling microscopy/spectroscopy (STM/S) data show an enhanced density of states at the interface of the two reconstructions and local Bi trimers over the (2×2) reconstructed surface. Bi-induced metallic surface states crossing the Fermi level are observed and attributed exclusively to the localized trimer states through STS and angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy (ARPES) results. Furthermore, the ARPES spectra show band splitting at the Γ point and degenerate surface states at the M point, which is associated with Rashba splitting due to strong Bi-substrate interaction. Thus we interpret the Bi/InSb(111)A, exhibiting spin-split metallic surface states induced by localized Bi structures, as a promising candidate for exploring low-dimensional states and spin dynamics in future quantum materials.}},
  author       = {{Yadav, Rohit and Benter, Sandra and Timm, Rainer}},
  issn         = {{2475-9953}},
  keywords     = {{Spin-orbit coupling; Epitaxial growth; topological; localized state}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  month        = {{06}},
  number       = {{6}},
  publisher    = {{American Physical Society}},
  series       = {{Physical Review Materials}},
  title        = {{Localized trimers inducing metallic states in sub-monolayer thin Bi films on InSb(111)A}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1103/mp9b-hgz1}},
  doi          = {{10.1103/mp9b-hgz1}},
  volume       = {{9}},
  year         = {{2025}},
}