Lieb Lattices Formed by Real Atoms on Ag(111) and Their Lattice Constant-Dependent Electronic Properties

Abstract

Scanning tunneling microscopy is a powerful tool to build artificial atomic structures that do not exist in nature but possess exotic properties. In this study, we constructed Lieb lattices with different lattice constants by real atoms, i.e., Fe atoms on Ag(111), and probed their electronic properties. We obtain a surprising long-range effective electron wavefunction overlap between Fe adatoms as it exhibits a 1 r 2 dependence with the interatomic distance r instead of the theoretically predicted exponential one. Combining control experiments, tight-binding modeling, and Green’s function calculations, we attribute the observed long-range overlap to being enabled by the surface state. Our findings enrich the understanding of the electron wavefunction overlap and provide a convenient platform to design and explore artificial structures and future devices with real atoms.

Carbon Kagome nanotubes—quasi-one-dimensional nanostructures with flat bands

“…Along these lines, moiré superlattices in twisted bilayers 8,15–19 and materials with tailored atomic lattices 20–23 have received much attention since they feature flat bands and rich electron physics. In order to observe and maintain desirable electronic properties, such systems usually involve some degree of engineering, and more often, a fine control over important system parameters ( e.g.…”

“…[3][4][5][6] This manner of interaction leads to a variety of fascinating materials phenomena, including superconductivity, 3,7 ferromagnetism, 8 Wigner crystallization, 9,10 and the fractional quantum Hall effect. [11][12][13][14] Along these lines, moiré superlattices in twisted bilayers 8,15-19 and materials with tailored atomic lattices [20][21][22][23] have received much attention since they feature at bands and rich electron physics. In order to observe and maintain desirable electronic properties, such systems usually involve some degree of engineering, and more oen, a ne control over important system parameters (e.g.…”