Near-edge electronic structure in NbS2

The near-edge electronic and structural properties of 2H-NbS(2) were investigated using scanning tunneling microscopy (STM) and density-functional calculations. Geometry optimization of the near-edge structure using density-functional calculations was performed on [1010]- and [1010]-terminated layer edges. Ribbon model systems also included variation of the number of bound sulfur atoms at the edges. Atomic resolution STM data exhibit a pronounced electronic density of states at the outermost edge atomic sites but are otherwise bulk-like in the near-edge region. Optimized NbS2 ribbon structures confirm the STM results indicating that minimal reconstruction occurs and that the edge electronic structure exhibits a significant increase in local density of states compared to bulk. Simulated STM images using extended Hückel tight-binding calculations based on optimized ribbon structures successfully modeled the experimental STM results. The results indicate that the [1010] "Nb" edges are preferentially observed compared to the [1010] "S" edge possibly due to differences in stability.