Growth of ultra-thin cerium oxide layers on Cu(1 1 1)

• Published in: Applied surface science Vol. 254; no. 1; pp. 153 - 155
• Main Authors: Matolín, V., Libra, J., Matolínová, I., Nehasil, V., Sedláček, L., Šutara, F.
• Format: Journal Article Conference Proceeding
• Language: English
• Published: Amsterdam Elsevier B.V 31-10-2007; Elsevier Science
• Subjects: Cerium oxide; Condensed matter: electronic structure, electrical, magnetic, and optical properties; Condensed matter: structure, mechanical and thermal properties; Copper; Cross-disciplinary physics: materials science; rheology; Electron and ion emission by liquids and solids; impact phenomena; Electron diffraction and scattering; Epitaxy; Exact sciences and technology; LEED; Low-energy electron diffraction (leed) and reflection high-energy electron diffraction (rheed); Materials science; Methods of deposition of films and coatings; film growth and epitaxy; Photoelectron spectroscopy; Photoemission and photoelectron spectra; Physics; Structure and morphology; thickness; Structure of solids and liquids; crystallography; Surfaces and interfaces; thin films and whiskers (structure and nonelectronic properties); Thin film; Thin film structure and morphology; Vacuum deposition; Epitaxy; 71.20.Eh; 79.60.−i; LEED; Copper; Cerium oxide; Photoelectron spectroscopy; Thin film; Ultrathin films; Temperature dependence; Oxygen; Annealing; Inorganic compounds; Mixed-valence compounds; Mixed state; Photoelectron spectroscopy; LEED; Copper; Cerium oxide; Epitaxy; Thin film; Rare earth compounds; 71.20.Eh; 79.60.-i; Surface structure; Overlayers; Island structure; Vacuum deposition; Defect formation; X-ray photoelectron spectra
• ISSN: 0169-4332; 1873-5584
• DOI: 10.1016/j.apsusc.2007.07.010

The reactive vacuum deposition of CeO
2 on Cu(1
1
1) surface in oxygen atmosphere provides high quality epitaxial ceria overlayers. We report the growth characteristics of Ce oxide, the structures, and the temperature stability of the oxide phases as investigated by low-energy electron diffraction (LEED) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. We find that Ce oxide on the Cu(1
1
1) grows initially in the form of islands giving sharp hexagonal LEED pattern of the CeO
2(1
1
1) structure corresponding to the (1.5
×
1.5) structure. The CeO
2–Cu(1
1
1) films exhibited mixed valence states and temperature dependent CeO
2–Ce
2O
3 transition above 900
K due to the vacuum annealing. The transition progressed more rapidly at the surface, probably by formation of oxygen vacancies.