Atomic Structure Of The (2√3×2√3)R30° Of Silicene On Ag(111) Surface

The deposition of one monolayer of silicon on a Ag(111) substrate induces the formation of silicene structures exhibiting different ordered phases, including a (2√3×2√3)R30°,a (4×4) and a (√13×√13)R13:9° superstructures. In this paper we focus on the (2√3×√3)R30° phase. Using a combination of scanning tunneling microscopy and LEED observations, we show that this phase corresponds to a 11° rotation of the silicene sheet relative to the substrate orientation