Atomic structure of CsBr thin films on Ag (111)

Abstract

Ultra-thin CsBr overlayers on the Ag (111) surface have been grown using physical vapor deposition and studied by scanning tunneling microscopy. Atomically resolved images of CsBr show the formation of the NaCl crystal structure rather than the bulk structure of CsBr, i.e., CsCl, in the first two atomic layers. The structure remains the same up to five monolayers, the maximum layer thickness being studied. Mobility of CsBr islands up to 1.1 nm thickness has been observed at room temperature. CsBr is one of the binary constituents for the growth of CsPbBr3 perovskites. Exploring the growth of CsBr on Ag (111) will provide reference information for the better understanding of the growth of CsPbBr3 perovskite thin films under similar growth conditions.