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The noncentrosymmetric semiconductors BiTeX(X=Cl,Br,I) show large Rashba-type spin-orbit splittings in their electronic structure making them candidate materials for spin-based electronics. However, BiTeI(0001) single-crystal surfaces usually consist of stacking-fault-induced domains of Te and I terminations implying a spatially inhomogeneous electronic structure. Here we combine scanning tunneling microscopy, photoelectron spectroscopy (ARPES, XPS), and density functional theory calculations to systematically investigate the structural and electronic properties of BiTeX(0001) surfaces. For X=Cl, Br we observe macroscopic single-terminated surfaces. We discuss chemical characteristics among the three materials in terms of bonding character, surface electronic structure, and surface morphology.
This work was financially supported by the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft through FOR1162 and partly by the Ministry of Education and Science of Russian Federation (Grant No. 2.8575.2013), the Russian Foundation for Basic Research (Grants No. 15-02-01797 and No. 15-02-02717), and Saint Petersburg State University (Project No. 11.50.202.2015).