Interaction between silicene and non-metallic surfaces

Abstract

Silicene has so far been successfully grown on metallic substrates, like Ag(111), ZrB2(0001) and Ir(111) surfaces. However, characterization of its electronic structure is hampered by the metallic substrate. In addition, potential applications of silicene in nanoelectronic devices will require its growth/integration with semiconducting or insulating substrates. In this chapter, we review recent theoretical works about the interaction of silicene with several non-metallic templates, distinguishing between the weak van der Waals like interaction of silicene with e.g. AlN or layered metal (di)chalcogenides, and the stronger covalent bonding between silicene and e.g. ZnS surfaces. Recent experimental results on the possible growth of silicene on MoS2 are also highlighted and compared to the theoretical predictions.