Using atomic resolved scanning tunneling microcppy, we present here the experimental evidence of a silicene sheet (graphene like structure) epitaxially grown on a close-packed silver surface (Ag(111)). This has been achieved via direct condensation of a silicon atomic flux onto the single-crystal substrate in ultra-high vacuum conditions. A highly ordered silicon structure, arranged within a honeycomb lattice is synthesized and presenting two silicon sub-lattices occupying positions at different heights (0.02 nm) indicating possible sp 2 -sp 3 hybridizations.

Scanning tunneling microscopy ͑STM͒ and ab initio calculations based on density functional theory ͑DFT͒ were used to study the self-aligned silicon nanoribbons on Ag͑110͒ with honeycomb, graphene-like structure. The silicon honeycombs structure on top of the silver substrate is clearly observed by STM, while the DFT calculations confirm that the Si atoms adopt spontaneously this new silicon structure.

We report on the electronic properties of straight, 1.6 nm wide, silicene nanoribbons on Ag(110), arranged in a one-dimensional grating with a pitch of 2 nm, whose high-resolution scanning tunneling microscopy images reveal a honeycomb geometry. Angle-resolved photoemission shows quantum confined electronic states of one-dimensional character. The silicon band dispersion along the direction of the nanoribbons suggests a behavior analogous to the Dirac cones of graphene on different substrates.

The deposition of one silicon monolayer on the silver (111) substrate in the temperature range 150-300 °C gives rise to a mix of (4 × 4), (2√3 × 2√3)R30° and (√13 × √13)R13.9° superstructures which strongly depend on the substrate temperature. We deduced from a detailed analysis of the LEED patterns and the STM images that all these superstructures are given by a quasi-identical silicon single layer with a honeycomb structure (i.e. a silicene-like layer) with different rotations relative to the silver substrate. The morphologies of the STM images are explained from the position of the silicon atoms relative to the silver atoms. A complete analysis of all possible rotations of the silicene layer predicts also a (√7 × √7)R19.1° superstructure which has not been observed so far.