Hematite α-Fe.sub.2./sub.O.sub.3./sub.(0001) in top and side view: resolving long-standing controversies about its surface structure

0583874 - FZÚ 2024 RIV US eng J - Journal Article
Redondo, J. - Michalička, J. - Kraushofer, F. - Franceschi, G. - Šmid, B. - Kumar, N. - Man, O. - Blatnik, M. - Wrana, D. - Mallada Faes, Benjamin Jose - Švec, Martin - Parkinson, G.S. - Setvín, M. - Riva, M. - Diebold, U. - Čechal, J.
Hematite α-Fe₂O₃(0001) in top and side view: resolving long-standing controversies about its surface structure.
Advanced Materials Interfaces. Roč. 10, č. 32 (2023), č. článku 2300602. ISSN 2196-7350. E-ISSN 2196-7350
R&D Projects: GA MŠMT LM2018110; GA MŠMT LM2023051
Institutional support: RVO:68378271
Keywords : iron oxide * nc-AFM * surface structure * TEM * XPS
OECD category: Condensed matter physics (including formerly solid state physics, supercond.)
Impact factor: 5.4, year: 2022
Method of publishing: Open access

The atomic-scale structure of the hematite surface remains controversial despite decades of study, partly because it depends on sample history as well as the preparation conditions. Here, a comprehensive study is performed using an arsenal of surface techniques (non-contact atomic force microscopy, scanning tunneling microscopy, low-energy electron diffraction, and X-ray photoemission spectroscopy) complemented by analyses of the near surface region by high-resolution transmission electron microscopy and electron energy loss spectroscopy. The results show that the so-called “bi-phase” termination forms even under highly oxidizing conditions, a (1 × 1) surface is only observed in the presence of impurities. Furthermore, it is shown that the biphase is actually a continuous layer distorted due to a mismatch with the subsurface layers, and thus not the proposed mixture of FeO(111) and α-Fe2O3(0001) phases.
Permanent Link: https://hdl.handle.net/11104/0351870