Epitaxial fabrication of two-dimensional TiTe<sub>2</sub> monolayer on Au(111) substrate with Te as buffer layer

Epitaxial fabrication of two-dimensional TiTe₂ monolayer on Au(111) substrate with Te as buffer layer

Song Zhipeng¹, Lei Bao¹, Cao Yun¹, Qi Jing¹, Peng Hao¹, Wang Qin¹, Huang Li¹, Lu Hongliang^{1, ‡}, Lin Xiao^{1, 2}, Wang Ye-Liang^{1, 3}, Du Shixuan^{1, 2}, Gao Hong-Jun^{1, 2}

STM images of the 2D TiTe₂ layer formed on the Au(111) surface. (a) STM image showing the three domains, marked as α, β, and γ. (b)–(d) Zoom-in STM images of the α, β, and γ domains in (a). (e)–(g) Line profiles of the purple lines in (b)–(d), respectively, which show periods of 5.0 Å, in agreement with 3 times of the Au substrate lattice constant. The sample bias and tunneling current: −10 mV, 40 pA in (a), −0.5 V, 50 pA in (b), −50 mV, 40 pA in (c) and (d).