Observing an ordered surface phase by B deposition on Cu(110)

Growths of novel two-dimensional materials have recently attracted interests to develop chemistry and physics at surfaces. By the boron deposition on Cu(110), we discovered a 1D anisotropic ordered phase, 3×1, as a pattern of electron diffraction. The electronic analysis by photoelectron spectroscopy unveiled that the surface superstructure is a layer of the Cu boride with a component of the negatively charged boron atoms. This surface boron atoms likely form the chain structure that is isoelectronic to carbon polymers, such as bumulene that was recently reported on Cu(111). Considering the two-fold rotation symmetry of Cu(110) substrate, the novel surface phase likely becomes an ideal system to examine 1D boron materials.