Under specific conditions, the sequential growth of Au and Pb on Si(111) results in a huge modification of the surface structure which neither Au/Si nor Pb/Si growths provoke separately. Initially atomically flat 7x7 Si(111) substrate breaks into a terraced-hill structure containing up to 10 atomic terraces of a typical width 10-50 nm. Terraces are covered by a dense monolayer of Pb (nominal coverage 1.2 to 1.33 ML); their step edges are decorated by double rows of Au atoms. This could open a route for constructing superconducting Josephson devices on atomic scale.

中文翻译：

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通过在 Si(111) 上用 Au 原子装饰台阶边缘来稳定致密金属 Pb 单层

在特定条件下，Au 和 Pb 在 Si(111) 上的连续生长导致表面结构发生巨大变化，Au/Si 和 Pb/Si 生长都不会单独引起。最初原子平坦的 7x7 Si(111) 衬底分解成梯田山结构，其中包含多达 10 个典型宽度为 10-50 nm 的原子梯田。梯田被一层致密的 Pb 单层覆盖（标称覆盖范围为 1.2 到 1.33 ML）；它们的台阶边缘由双排金原子装饰。这可以为在原子尺度上构建超导约瑟夫森器件开辟一条途径。