Surface localization of electrons in Ultrathin crystalline structures

Abstract

Electron subsystem of ultrathin films was analyzed using Green's function method including quantum size effect and effect of boundaries on Hamiltonian parameters. We have calculated basic physical properties of electrons in crystalline films: energy spectra, possible states, space distribution of electrons and the position of Fermi level, which enabled the complete insight into the thermodynamic or conducting characteristics of observed film-structure. The comparison with crystal bulk have shown that electronic properties of the materials are strongly influenced by both the sample dimensions and boundary conditions. The numerical calculations performed for very thin crystalline metallic-like films show that localized states and spatial distribution of the (quasi)free electrons might be manipulated by varying the surface parameters which is significant for operation of devices based on thin films. © 2014 World Scientific Publishing Company.