Impurity effect on surface states of Bi (111) ultrathin films

The surface impurity effect on the surface-state conductivity and weak antilocalization (WAL) effect has been investigated in epitaxial Bi (111) films by magnetotransport measurements at low temperatures. The surface-state conductivity is significantly reduced by the surface impurities of Cu, Fe, and Co. The magnetotransport data demonstrate that the observed WAL is robust against deposition of nonmagnetic impurities, but it is quenched by the deposition of magnetic impurities which break the time reversal symmetry. Our results help to shed light on the effect of surface impurities on the electron and spin transport properties of a 2D surface electron systems.