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We report the first-principle study on the recovery and linearization of Dirac cones in the electronic band structures of a few bilayer Sb(111) films ( n-BL Sb) by surface modification. Due to the interaction between the surface states on the two surfaces of a free-standing film, the distorted Dirac cone in n-BL Sb(111) ( n < 5) disappears. We demonstrate that the Dirac cone can be restored by functionalizing one surface with certain atoms including H, Ag, and Au, to reduce the inter-surface interaction. We further show that an ideal Dirac cone with linear dispersion of topological surface states near the zone center can be realized by functionalizing both surfaces of the film with oxygen, which enhances spin-orbital coupling. The realization of Dirac cone by surface functionalization shows promise for applications of topologic materials to spintronic devices and their operation in complicated conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Germanium was deposited onto highly oriented pyrolytic graphite (HOPG) with and without antimony in ultra-high vacuum. The surface morphology was analyzed using in situ scanning tunneling microscopy (STM) at room temperature (RT). The film grows exclusively in 3D island mode and was affected significantly by substrate defects. At initial stage, nucleation of cluster occurred at step edges and defect sites. Later, we found various types of Ge nanostructures on HOPG in different deposition conditions and stages, including cluster chains, cluster islands, nanowires, and double layer ramified islands at RT. Compact Ge islands were observed when depositing at a substrate temperature of 450 K or after an annealing at 600 K following RT deposition. In addition, the pre-deposited Sb on graphite enhances the sticking probability and suppresses the surface diffusion of Ge atoms, resulting in a significant increase in Ge cluster island density on HOPG terraces. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]