First steps of blue phosphorene growth on Au(1 1 1)

Abstract Blue phosphorene (blue-P) has attracted considerable attention due to its potential applications in optical and electronic devices. However, its synthesis has remained a challenge. Here, we report an experimental investigation of the first steps of blue-P growth on Au(1 1 1) surface by molecular-beam epitaxy. The structure was characterized by in situ low temperature scanning tunneling microscopy, low-energy electron diffraction, combined with density functional theory calculations. We reveal two-dimensional (2D) phosphorus clusters (P-clusters) formed on surface at 150 °C, where the most prevalent structure of P-clusters is composed of triangles with six protrusions. We also demonstrate the transformation of these P-clusters into a single layer of blue-P after post-annealing at 260 °C. Our observation of the growth process is a necessary step for exploring the growth mechanisms further.