The morphology, electron structure, and optical properties of self-assembled silicon nanostructures on the surface of highly oriented pyrolytic graphite

The results of studies of the morphology, electronic structure, and optical properties of self-assembled silicon nanostructures on the surface of highly oriented pyrolytic graphite are reported. The structures are fabricated by electron-beam-assisted evaporation in high-vacuum conditions. It is found that, at thicknesses of about one monolayer, the atomic structure of the layer is similar to that of graphene with the interatomic spacing ∼2.4 Å. At film thicknesses larger than one monolayer, clusters about 5 nm in dimensions are formed on the substrate surface.