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Weindl, Adrian ; Setescak, Christoph Stephen ; Giessibl, Franz J.

Fe Adatoms on Bi2Se3 and TlBiSe2: Adsorption Geometry and Influence on the Local Density of States

Article

Weindl, Adrian , Setescak, Christoph Stephen and Giessibl, Franz J. (2026) Fe Adatoms on Bi2Se3 and TlBiSe2: Adsorption Geometry and Influence on the Local Density of States. The Journal of Physical Chemistry C.

DOI to cite this document: 10.5283/epub.79590


Abstract

We present a combined scanning tunneling microscopy (STM), atomic force microscopy (AFM), and Kelvin probe force spectroscopy (KPFS) study of Fe adatoms on topological insulators (TIs) Bi2Se3 and TlBiSe2. Utilizing both metallic and CO-functionalized tips at 4.4 K under ultrahigh vacuum conditions, we measure the local density of states (LDOS), adsorption geometry, and charge state of individual ...

We present a combined scanning tunneling microscopy (STM), atomic force microscopy (AFM), and Kelvin probe force spectroscopy (KPFS) study of Fe adatoms on topological insulators (TIs) Bi2Se3 and TlBiSe2. Utilizing both metallic and CO-functionalized tips at 4.4 K under ultrahigh vacuum conditions, we measure the local density of states (LDOS), adsorption geometry, and charge state of individual Fe adatoms. While Fe atoms on Bi2Se3 induce strong resonances in the LDOS without opening a spectral gap, consistent with previous reports, Fe on TlBiSe2 exhibits a pronounced local suppression of the LDOS at the energy of the Dirac point, indicative of a gap opening. Using high-resolution AFM imaging and probe particle model (PPM) simulations, we determine the adsorption geometries of Fe on both materials with picometer precision. Our KPFS and tunneling spectroscopy measurements confirm that Fe acts as a positively charged electron donor on Bi2Se3. In contrast, we suggest that Fe on TlBiSe2 is close to electrically neutral. Our findings highlight the critical role of the adsorption environment in determining the impact of adatoms on TI surfaces and suggest that a local gap opening can be studied on TlBiSe2.



Involved Institutions


Details

Item typeArticle
Journal or Publication TitleThe Journal of Physical Chemistry C
PublisherAmerican Chemical Society (ACS)
Open Access TypeACS Hybrid
Date4 June 2026
Date of publication11 Jun 2026 09:42
InstitutionsPhysics > Institute of Experimental and Applied Physics > Chair Professor Giessibl > Group Franz J. Giessibl
Projects
Funded by: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) (314695032)
Identification Number
ValueType
10.1021/acs.jpcc.6c01330DOI
KeywordsAdsorption, Impurities, Layers, Scanning tunneling microscopy, Topological insulator
Dewey Decimal Classification500 Science > 530 Physics
StatusPublished
RefereedYes, this version has been refereed
Created at the University of RegensburgYes
URN of the UB Regensburgurn:nbn:de:bvb:355-epub-795906
Item ID79590

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