In-situ X ray photo-electron spectroscopy and ex-situ transmission electron microscopy and diffraction studies of a model Fe3O4(111)/MgO(111) polar oxide interface exclude stabilization by interface faceting, and uncover stabilization by dominant formation of metallic Fe(110) nanocrystals. The iron nanocrystals nucleate both at the interface and with in the magnetite film and grow in a Nishiyama-Wasserman orientation relationship with a bimodal size distribution related to twinning. Minority magnetite nanocrystals were also observed, growing in the less polar (100) orientation than the magnetite (111) film.
Revised: March 17, 2004 |
Published: June 13, 2003
Citation
Lazarov V., S.A. Chambers, and M. Gajdardziska-Josifovska. 2003.Polar Oxide Interface Stabilization by Formation of Metallic Nanocrystals.Physical Review Letters 90, no. 21:216108.PNNL-SA-37674.