2016 journal article

In-situ real-space imaging of single crystal surface reconstructions via electron microscopy

APPLIED PHYSICS LETTERS, 109(20).

By: W. Xu n, P. Bowes n , E. Grimley n, D. Irving n & J. LeBeau n

co-author countries: United States of America πŸ‡ΊπŸ‡Έ
Source: Web Of Science
Added: August 6, 2018

Here, we report a high temperature in-situ atomic resolution scanning transmission electron microscopy (STEM) study of single crystal surface structure dynamics. With the approach, we gain direct insight into a double layer reconstruction that occurs on the polar SrTiO3 (110) surface. We find that structural details of this reconstruction can be directly attributed to charge redistribution and the thermal mismatch between the surface and the bulk material. Periodic surface defects, similar to dislocations, are found, which act to relieve stress as the temperature is lowered. Combining STEM observations, electron energy loss spectroscopy, and density functional theory, we highlight the combined role of lattice misfit and charge compensation to determine the structure and chemistry of the observed polar surface reconstruction.