Modeling the Surface State Depopulation on Ag(110) With the Growth of One‐Dimensional Si Nanoribbons Using a Geometric Scattering Model

The reduction of the photoemission signal from the Shockley-type surface state of the Ag(110) surface upon the growth of one-dimensional single stranded Si nanoribbons (NRs) is modeled using a customized Poelsema–Comsa (P–C) geometric scattering model. The P-C model takes into account results from scanning tunneling microscopy data on the lengths of Si NRs, the release of Ag adatoms and the formation of narrow finger-like Ag terraces. The simulations show that the newly formed narrow Ag terraces have a negligible effect on the depopulation of the state, whereas the presence of Ag adatoms dominate the depopulation at higher coverage. We determine a depopulating effect of the Si NRs upon the Ag surface state in terms of a nanoscale patch area over which the Si NRs, and the Ag adatoms that they generate, subtract from the photoemission signal from the surface state. We find that the patch area is equivalent to each Si NR deactivating an orthogonal distance 0.6 nm either side of the NR. The work function of the surface is measured, revealing a linear increase in work function upon increasing Si NR coverage.