Structural and electronic properties of Sn sheets grown on Cd(0001)

We investigate the growth and electronic properties of the Sn sheets on Cd(0001) with a low-temperature scanning tunneling microscopy (STM) and density functional theory (DFT) calculations. It is found that both the first and second layer of Sn reveal the epitaxial growth with a 1 × 1 commensurate lattice. Scanning tunneling microscopy (STS) measurements indicate the Sn monolayer exhibits a metallic behavior. DFT calculations indicate that all the Sn atoms in the first Sn layer occupy the energetically preferable hcp-hollow sites. Very small amount of charge is transferred from Cd(0001) to the Sn monolayer, indicating the interface of Sn/Cd(0001) is governed by the weak van der Waals interaction.