Role of Atomic Interaction in Electronic Hybridization in Two-Dimensional Ag2Ge Nanosheets

We performed low-temperature scanning tunneling microscopy, low-energy electron diffraction, angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy, and in situ Raman spectroscopy to investigate the exotic electronic characteristics of the two-dimensional Ag 2 Ge surface alloy associated with Ge-Ag interactions. The dynamics of Ge insertion into the Ag(111) substrate has been identified, which is distinct due to the metalloid nature of Ge. The ordered structure of the Ag 2 Ge alloy is determined by the Ag-Ge interaction, which can be controlled by the coverage of Ge atoms on the Ag(111) surface. The linear dispersions of surface states across the Fermi level have been identified in Ag 2 Ge by angle-resolved photoelectron spectroscopy, which suggests that Ag 2 Ge could be a potential candidate material for high-performance electronic applications.