Observation of structure and electronic states of a single-layer Kondo lattice CePt₆/Pt(111)

Abstract

We grew 1 unit layer (u.l.) of a Ce-Pt intermetallic compound on Pt(111) and observed the structure and the electronic states using scanning tunneling microscopy/spectroscopy. Atomically resolved observation revealed the formation of an ordered (2×2)-CePt₆/Pt(111) with a pure Pt atomic layer at the surface. By measuring quasiparticle interference at 5 K, we found that the surface state on Pt(111) above Fermi energy shifts downward on the topmost Pt layer of the 1 u.l. CePt₆, indicating charge transfer from the underneath CePt₂ layer. The observed zero-bias anomaly in the tunneling spectra suggests a coherent Kondo state.