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

Here, we report a high temperaturein-situ atomic resolution scanning transmission electron microscopy (STEM) study ofsingle crystalsurface structuredynamics. With the approach, we gain direct insight into adouble layerreconstruction that occurs on the polar SrTiO3 (110)surface. We find thatstructural details of thisreconstruction can be directly attributed to charge redistribution and the thermal mismatch between thesurface and the bulk material. Periodicsurface defects, similar todislocations, are found, which act to relieve stress as the temperature is lowered. Combining STEM observations,electron energy loss spectroscopy, anddensity functional theory, we highlight the combined role of lattice misfit and charge compensation to determine thestructure and chemistry of the observed polarsurface reconstruction.

Source: Applied Physics Letters - November 15, 2016 Category: Physics Authors: Weizong Xu, Preston C. Bowes, Everett D. Grimley, Douglas L. Irving and James M. LeBeau Source Type: research