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Stoichiometric reconstruction of the Al$_{2}$O$_{3}$(0001) surface
- Source :
- Science 385, 6714, 1241-1244 (2024)
- Publication Year :
- 2024
-
Abstract
- Macroscopic properties of materials stem from fundamental atomic-scale details, yet for insulators, resolving surface structures remains a challenge. The basal (0001) plane of ${\alpha}$-Al$_{2}$O$_{3}$ was imaged with noncontact atomic force microscopy with an atomically-defined tip apex. The surface forms a complex $({\sqrt31} {\times} {\sqrt31})R{\pm}9{\deg}$ reconstruction. The lateral positions of the individual O and Al surface atoms come directly from experiment; how these connect to the underlying crystal bulk was determined based on computational modeling. Before the restructuring, the surface Al atoms assume an unfavorable, threefold planar coordination; the reconstruction allows a rehybridization with subsurface O that leads to a substantial energy gain. The reconstructed surface remains stoichiometric, Al$_{2}$O$_{3}$.
- Subjects :
- Condensed Matter - Materials Science
Physics - Chemical Physics
Subjects
Details
- Database :
- arXiv
- Journal :
- Science 385, 6714, 1241-1244 (2024)
- Publication Type :
- Report
- Accession number :
- edsarx.2405.19263
- Document Type :
- Working Paper
- Full Text :
- https://doi.org/10.1126/science.adq4744