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Title: Quantum size effects in metal films: Energies and charge densities of Pb(111) grown on Cu(111)

Abstract

Energies and electron densities of free-standing Pb(111) slabs consisting of 1 to 15 layers have been determined by means of ab initio total energy calculations, using periodic slab geometries and gradient-corrected density functional theory. Two sets of calculations were carried out, one with fixed slab geometries and another one where interlayer spacings were fully relaxed. We find quantum size effects (QSE{close_quote}s) for the total energies in agreement with experiments by Toennies [Europhys. Lett. >10, 341 (1989)], who monitored the epitaxial growth of thin Pb films on a Cu(111) substrate. QSE{close_quote}s are also observed for the surface electron density of thin lead films which manifest themselves as different {open_quotes}apparent step heights{close_quotes} of the individual layers in high resolution helium atom scattering [Surf. Sci. >384, L858 (1997)]. For this second QSE, we find that the interplane relaxation but also the in-plane strain within the Pb layers imposed by the Cu(111) substrate, are important factors when it comes to a quantitative comparison between theory and experiment.

Authors:
; ;
Publication Date:
Sponsoring Org.:
(US)
OSTI Identifier:
40203580
Resource Type:
Journal Article
Journal Name:
Physical Review B
Additional Journal Information:
Journal Volume: 63; Journal Issue: 23; Other Information: DOI: 10.1103/PhysRevB.63.235405; Othernumber: PRBMDO000063000023235405000001; 021123PRB; PBD: 15 Jun 2001; Journal ID: ISSN 0163-1829
Publisher:
The American Physical Society
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Subject:
71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSICS; ATOMS; ELECTRON DENSITY; ELECTRONS; FUNCTIONALS; HELIUM; RELAXATION; RESOLUTION; SCATTERING; STRAINS

Citation Formats

Materzanini, Giuliana, Saalfrank, Peter, and Lindan, Philip J. D. Quantum size effects in metal films: Energies and charge densities of Pb(111) grown on Cu(111). United States: N. p., 2001. Web. doi:10.1103/PhysRevB.63.235405.
Materzanini, Giuliana, Saalfrank, Peter, & Lindan, Philip J. D. Quantum size effects in metal films: Energies and charge densities of Pb(111) grown on Cu(111). United States. https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevB.63.235405
Materzanini, Giuliana, Saalfrank, Peter, and Lindan, Philip J. D. 2001. "Quantum size effects in metal films: Energies and charge densities of Pb(111) grown on Cu(111)". United States. https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevB.63.235405.
@article{osti_40203580,
title = {Quantum size effects in metal films: Energies and charge densities of Pb(111) grown on Cu(111)},
author = {Materzanini, Giuliana and Saalfrank, Peter and Lindan, Philip J. D.},
abstractNote = {Energies and electron densities of free-standing Pb(111) slabs consisting of 1 to 15 layers have been determined by means of ab initio total energy calculations, using periodic slab geometries and gradient-corrected density functional theory. Two sets of calculations were carried out, one with fixed slab geometries and another one where interlayer spacings were fully relaxed. We find quantum size effects (QSE{close_quote}s) for the total energies in agreement with experiments by Toennies [Europhys. Lett. >10, 341 (1989)], who monitored the epitaxial growth of thin Pb films on a Cu(111) substrate. QSE{close_quote}s are also observed for the surface electron density of thin lead films which manifest themselves as different {open_quotes}apparent step heights{close_quotes} of the individual layers in high resolution helium atom scattering [Surf. Sci. >384, L858 (1997)]. For this second QSE, we find that the interplane relaxation but also the in-plane strain within the Pb layers imposed by the Cu(111) substrate, are important factors when it comes to a quantitative comparison between theory and experiment.},
doi = {10.1103/PhysRevB.63.235405},
url = {https://www.osti.gov/biblio/40203580}, journal = {Physical Review B},
issn = {0163-1829},
number = 23,
volume = 63,
place = {United States},
year = {Fri Jun 15 00:00:00 EDT 2001},
month = {Fri Jun 15 00:00:00 EDT 2001}
}