Controllable Growth of α- And β-Antimonene by Interfacial Strain

Antimonene has two different allotropes, namely, orthorhombic α-Sb and rhombohedral β-Sb. Both phases exhibit unique electronic properties and have been prepared on various substrates. However, the controllable growth of α- and β-Sb has remained challenging. In the present work, we demonstrate that α- and β-Sb can be controllably grown on a family of inert substrates with hexagonal structures. The preferential phase of antimonene can be tuned through the interfacial strain induced by the lattice mismatch. Our work clarifies the mechanism for the controllable growth of α- and β-Sb on various substrates, shedding light on the synthesis of 2D Xenes suitable for practical applications.