Abstract
A new class of materials was identified as Cu20Nb monolayer clusters,
which hosts strong correlation electrons. Direct observation show maps
of electron wave function patterns, where the symmetry, brightness and
size of features was directly related to the position of a Nb atom in Cu
lattice, around which the electron was bound. Using the Fourier
transform (FT) of the fractal dimension of the AFM images, these
clusters present quasi-particle interference (QPI), which reveals a
unique picture of electron waves and the trapping of further electrons
in the lattice. Furthermore, density functional theory (DFT)
calculations validated electronic features of the clusters with
remarkable accuracy. DFT calculations also revealed differences between
the lowest unoccupied energy (LUMO) and the highest occupied energy
(HOMO), and these phase gaps evolved in the ground state. These
phenomena provide evidence that electron correlation stimulates
electronic bands to pseudo-gap states. Indeed, our experiments pave the
way for realizing unconventional superconductivity in zero-dimension
materials.