Humphrey, David S, Pang, Chi L 
ORCID: 0000-0002-5222-9734, Chen, Qiao and Thornton, Geoff
(2019)
Electron induced nanoscale engineering of rutile TiO2 surfaces.
NANOTECHNOLOGY, 30 (2).
025303-.
Abstract
Electron stimulated modifications of the rutile TiO<sub>2</sub>(110) surface have been investigated using scanning tunnelling microscopy tip pulses and electron beam irradiation. Tip pulses on the 'as-prepared' surface induce local surface reconstruction and removal of surface hydroxyls in a region around the reconstruction. A defocused beam from an electron gun as well as tip pulses have been used to generate a number of oxygen deficient surfaces. All tip pulse features display an oval profile, which can be attributed to the anisotropic conductivity of the TiO<sub>2</sub>(110) surface. A novel oxygen deficient phase with well-ordered defective 'nano-cracks' has been identified, which can be produced by either electron beam irradiation or low flash anneal temperatures (∼570 K). Annealing such surfaces to moderate temperatures (∼850 K) leads to mixed 1 × 1 and 1 × 2 surfaces, until now only achievable by annealing in oxygen or ageing by repeated sputter/anneal cycles. Heating to normal preparation temperatures (1000 K) reforms the clean, well-ordered 1 × 1 surface termination. Our results demonstrate the potential of electron induced processes to modify the oxygen composition and structure of the TiO<sub>2</sub>(110) surface in a controllable and reversible way for selective surface patterning and surface reactivity modification.
| Item Type: | Article |
|---|---|
| Uncontrolled Keywords: | TiO2, STM, reconstruction, electron beam, tip pulse, surface structure, point defects |
| Depositing User: | Symplectic Admin |
| Date Deposited: | 11 Feb 2019 14:54 |
| Last Modified: | 19 Jan 2023 01:04 |
| DOI: | 10.1088/1361-6528/aae95b |
| Open Access URL: | https://iopscience.iop.org/article/10.1088/1361-65... |
| Related URLs: | |
| URI: | https://livrepository.liverpool.ac.uk/id/eprint/3032662 |
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