Surface diffusion of Pb atoms on the Si(553)-Au surface in narrow quasi-one-dimensional channels

Abstract

The one-dimensional diffusion of individual Pb atoms on the Si(553)-Au surface has been investigated by a combination of scanning tunneling microscopy (STM), spectroscopy (STS), and first-principles density functional theory. The obtained results unambiguously prove that the diffusion channels are limited to a narrow region between Au chains and step edges of the surface. Much wider channels observed in STM and STS data have electronic origin and result from an interaction of Pb with surface atoms. The length of the channels is determined by a distance between defects at step edges of the Si(553)-Au surface. The defects can act as potential barriers or potential wells for Pb atoms, depending on their origin.