Variable Coupling Strength of Silicene on Ag(111)

We perform a scanning tunneling microscopy and spectroscopy study on the electronic structures of √3×√3-silicene on Ag(111). It is found that the coupling strength of √3×√3-silicene with the Ag(111) substrate is variable in different regions, giving rise to notable effects in experiments. This evidence of decoupling or variable interaction of silicene with the substrate is helpful to in-depth understanding of the structure and electronic properties of silicene.