Au-induced deep groove nanowire structure on the Ge(001) surface: DFT calculations

Abstract

The atomic geometry, stability, and electronic properties of self-organized Au induced nanowires on the Ge(001) surface are investigated based on the density-functional theory in GGA and the stoichiometry of Au. A giant Ge zigzag chain structure is suggested for 0.75 ML Au coverage, which displays c(8×2) deep groove zigzag nanowire structure simulated STM images. The top layer Ge and Au atomic disorder introduces the chevron units into the zigzag nanowire structure STM image as per the experimental observations. The zigzag Ge nanowire exhibits a semi-metallic characteristic, and the electric transport occurs in between the Ge zigzag nanowire and the subsurface. The system exhibits obvious electronic correlations among the Ge nanowire, the nano-facet Au trimers and the deeper layer Ge atoms, that play an important role in the electronic structure. At surface Brillouin zone boundaries, an anisotropic two-dimensional upward parabolic surface-state band is consistent with the ARPES spectra reported by Nakatsuji et al. [Phys. Rev. B 80, 081406(R) (2009); Phys. Rev. B 84, 115411 (2011)]; this electronic structure is different from the quasi-one-dimensional energy trough reported by Schäfer et al. [Phys. Rev. Lett. 101, 236802 (2008); Phys. Rev. B 83, 121411(R) (2011)].