Structure of DySi2 nanowires on Si(001)

Free-standing dysprosium-silicide nanowires can be formed on Si(001) by self assembly. It is shown that the wires consist of anisotropically strained hexagonal DySi2 with the c axis aligned perpendicular to the wires. The surface is characterized by a 2x1 reconstruction due to the formation of Si dimer chains. (C) 2002 American Institute of Physics.