Self-organization of one-dimensional Au nanowires on a surface carbide and lateral electron quantization

The self-assembly of a periodic array of Au nanowires of 1 nm width on a prepatterned W(110)/C-R(15x3) substrate is demonstrated by low-energy electron diffraction and scanning tunneling microscopy. Angle-resolved photoemission reveals that Au d states propagate along the wires and split up into distinct quantum-well states due to lateral confinement perpendicular to the wires. Our structural model emphasizes the role of the surface carbide as template for the self-organization.