Segregation of impurities in TiO2 substrates impacts the local atomic structure and stoichiometry of the native TiO2 surfaces. We investigated the effects of oxygen plasma on the TiO2 surfaces. It was found that annealing TiO2 crystals at above 500 degrees C effectively removed calcium and carbon contaminants and dramatically improved the surface morphology and stoichiometry. Scanning tunneling micrographs revealed atomically smooth surfaces with well-defined step-terrace morphology after the plasma treatment, while x-ray photoelectron spectra showed that all the Ti cations on the resulting surfaces were fully coordinated.
Revised: September 7, 2011 |
Published: July 12, 2000
Citation
Gan S., Y. Liang, and D.R. Baer. 2000.Atomic Control of TiO2(110) Surface By Oxygen Plasma Treatment.Surface Science Letters 459, no. 3:L498-L502.PNNL-SA-32377.