Charge transfer in Sr Zintl template on Si(001)

The formation of the half monolayer (ML) Sr Zintl template layer on Si(001) is investigated in a combined experimental and theoretical work consisting of in situ reflection high energy electron diffraction, in situ x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and density functional theory. Starting with clean 2 × 1 reconstructed Si(001), we demonstrate that Sr deposition leads to a charge transfer from the metal to the Si substrate resulting in the disappearance of the asymmetry of Si dimers - an essential structural change that enables direct perovskite epitaxy on Si, and likely, other semiconductors. XPS reveals an unexpected shift to higher binding energy of the Si 2p core-level components, including the bulk. This unusual behavior is attributed to final state effects using first principles calculations. As measured by ultraviolet photoelectron spectroscopy, the deposition of 0.5 ML of Sr lowers the work function of the system by 1.35 eV, and is in good agreement with our theoretical calculations.