Equilibrium faceting formation in vicinal Al 2O 3 (0001) surface caused by annealing

R. Verre; R. G.S. Sofin; V. Usov; K. Fleischer; D. Fox; G. Behan; H. Zhang; I. V. Shvets

doi:10.1016/j.susc.2012.07.024

Equilibrium faceting formation in vicinal Al ₂O ₃ (0001) surface caused by annealing

R. Verre^*, R. G.S. Sofin, V. Usov, K. Fleischer, D. Fox, G. Behan, H. Zhang, I. V. Shvets

^*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

20 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

We report on a heat-induced transformation of the surface of α-alumina (0001) crystals which have an off-cut in the [12̄10] direction. Annealing the crystal causes the surface to transform into a regular array of (0001) and (12̄16) facets. The resultant faceted morphology represents the equilibrium state of the system. It is demonstrated that the average terrace periodicity is determined by the annealing temperature. Possible causes for the surface rearrangement are also discussed. This method could be used for producing templates with controlled periodicity for growth of nanostructure arrays.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	1815-1820
Number of pages	6
Journal	Surface Science
Volume	606
Issue number	23-24
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.susc.2012.07.024
Publication status	Published - Dec 2012
Externally published	Yes

Keywords

Equilibrium state
Faceting
High temperature annealing
Sapphire

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Condensed Matter Physics
Surfaces and Interfaces
Surfaces, Coatings and Films
Materials Chemistry

Access to Document

10.1016/j.susc.2012.07.024

Cite this

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title = "Equilibrium faceting formation in vicinal Al 2O 3 (0001) surface caused by annealing",

abstract = "We report on a heat-induced transformation of the surface of α-alumina (0001) crystals which have an off-cut in the [1{\=2}10] direction. Annealing the crystal causes the surface to transform into a regular array of (0001) and (1{\=2}16) facets. The resultant faceted morphology represents the equilibrium state of the system. It is demonstrated that the average terrace periodicity is determined by the annealing temperature. Possible causes for the surface rearrangement are also discussed. This method could be used for producing templates with controlled periodicity for growth of nanostructure arrays.",

keywords = "Equilibrium state, Faceting, High temperature annealing, Sapphire",

author = "R. Verre and Sofin, {R. G.S.} and V. Usov and K. Fleischer and D. Fox and G. Behan and H. Zhang and Shvets, {I. V.}",

note = "Funding Information: We would like to thank Prof. S. Stoyanov for the helpful suggestions. This work has been funded by the Science Foundation of Ireland , Contract No. 06/IN.1/I91 , and was conducted under the framework of the INSPIRE programme, funded by the Irish Government's Programme for Research in Third Level Institutions, Cycle 4, National Development Plan 2007–2013 .",

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language = "English",

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journal = "Surface Science",

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T1 - Equilibrium faceting formation in vicinal Al 2O 3 (0001) surface caused by annealing

AU - Verre, R.

AU - Sofin, R. G.S.

AU - Usov, V.

AU - Fleischer, K.

AU - Fox, D.

AU - Behan, G.

AU - Zhang, H.

AU - Shvets, I. V.

N1 - Funding Information: We would like to thank Prof. S. Stoyanov for the helpful suggestions. This work has been funded by the Science Foundation of Ireland , Contract No. 06/IN.1/I91 , and was conducted under the framework of the INSPIRE programme, funded by the Irish Government's Programme for Research in Third Level Institutions, Cycle 4, National Development Plan 2007–2013 .

PY - 2012/12

Y1 - 2012/12

N2 - We report on a heat-induced transformation of the surface of α-alumina (0001) crystals which have an off-cut in the [12̄10] direction. Annealing the crystal causes the surface to transform into a regular array of (0001) and (12̄16) facets. The resultant faceted morphology represents the equilibrium state of the system. It is demonstrated that the average terrace periodicity is determined by the annealing temperature. Possible causes for the surface rearrangement are also discussed. This method could be used for producing templates with controlled periodicity for growth of nanostructure arrays.

AB - We report on a heat-induced transformation of the surface of α-alumina (0001) crystals which have an off-cut in the [12̄10] direction. Annealing the crystal causes the surface to transform into a regular array of (0001) and (12̄16) facets. The resultant faceted morphology represents the equilibrium state of the system. It is demonstrated that the average terrace periodicity is determined by the annealing temperature. Possible causes for the surface rearrangement are also discussed. This method could be used for producing templates with controlled periodicity for growth of nanostructure arrays.

KW - Equilibrium state

KW - Faceting

KW - High temperature annealing

KW - Sapphire

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