Effect of embedded Cr on the structural phase transition of In/Si(111)4 × 1

Abstract

Using scanning tunneling microscopy and low-energy electron diffraction observations accompanied with the density-functional theory calculations, adsorption of Cr atoms onto the Si(111)4 × 1-In surface and its effect on the 4 × 1-to-8 × 2 structural transition were investigated. It was found that in contrast to other metal adsorbates, such as Na, In and Pb, which remain adatoms, Cr atom becomes embedded below the level of In atoms constituting the In nanowire. But in other respects Cr produces effects similar to those of other metals, namely it also induces distortion in the In rows of its residence resulting in doubling of the periodicity along the rows and also reduces the critical temperature of the 4 × 1-to-8 × 2 transition almost linearly with amount of deposited metal.