The dependence of surface morphology on the growth temperature of the Pb_0.7Sn_0.3Te/Si(111) topological insulator thin films

The possibility of epitaxial growth of Pb_0.7Sn_0.3Te crystalline topological insulator films on the Si(111) surface was shown and epitaxial relations were found. It was shown that, depending on the growth temperature, it is possible to control not only the character of the morphology, but also, to a significant extent, the smoothness of the epitaxial layer surface, which is extremely important for further transport measurements of the films. Analysis of the grown films surface morphology made it possible to establish the average value of the height and lateral size of the terraces and islands forming Pb_0.7Sn_0.3Te surface.