Berlin 2018 – scientific programme
Parts | Days | Selection | Search | Updates | Downloads | Help
O: Fachverband Oberflächenphysik
O 51: Poster: Electronic Structure of Surfaces: Spectroscopy, Surface States
O 51.9: Poster
Tuesday, March 13, 2018, 18:15–20:30, Poster B
The 2x1 reconstruction of the LaB6 (001)-surface observed by Scanning Tunneling Microscopy — •Philipp Buchsteiner1, Jan Voigt1, Geetha Balakrishnan2, and Martin Wenderoth1 — 1IV. Physikalisches Institut, Georg-August Universität Göttingen, Germany — 2Department of Physics, University of Warwick, United Kingdom
Lanthanum Hexaboride (LaB6) is widely used as cathode emitter due to its chemical stability and low work function of the (001)-surface [1]. We investigate the (001)-surface obtained by in situ cleavage at room temperature. The sample is directly transferred to our home built low temperature (6 K) Scanning Tunneling Microscope (STM). Our measurements unravel for the first time that a chain-like 2x1 reconstruction is present at the surface. Since LaB6 is built from positively charged La ions and negatively charged B6 molecules such an arrangement can avoid an unfavourable surface polarization. Such a 2x1 reconstruction has been observed for cleaved Samarium Hexaboride (SmB6) (001)-surfaces as well [2]. However, this modification has not been found on heated LaB6 (001)-surfaces, where only non-reconstructed areas with numerous vacancies have been observed [3]. Contrarily to this findings non-reconstructed areas obtained by cleavage do not exhibit such a high vacancy concentration. This work is supported by the DFG. [1] M. Trenary, Sci. Technol. Adv. Mater., 13 (2012) [2] S. Rößler et al., Philos. Mag., 96:31, 3262-3273 (2016) [3] J.S. Ozcomert, M. Trenary, Surf. Sci., 265 (1992)