Growth and electronic structure of holmium silicides by STM and STS

The growth of holmium on the Si(1 1 1) surface in the sub-monolayer region was investigated using STM. Several metastable reconstructions, including 5 × 2 and (23×23)R30° were observed during the nucleation of the 1 × 1 2D rare earth (RE) silicide surface. The authors attempt to combine this data into a detailed picture of the development of the surface, and identify future directions for improving interface quality. Scanning tunnelling spectroscopy data were taken from the 1 × 1 surface, and compared with published theoretical and photoemission results from other 2D RE silicides.