Evolution of steps on vicinal (0001) surfaces of α-alumina

Evolution of the step arrangement on vicinal (0001) surfaces of an α-alumina crystal annealed for 1 h in the range of 1000–1500°C in air was investigated by atomic force microscopy. For T1200°C, steps with larger heights grow either due to direct coalescence or due to the displacement of single step...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Surface science 1998-08, Vol.411 (3), p.263-271
Main Authors: Pham Van, L, Kurnosikov, O, Cousty, J
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Aluminium oxide
Atomic force microscopy
Condensed matter: structure, mechanical and thermal properties
Diffusion
interface formation
Exact sciences and technology
Physics
Solid surfaces and solid-solid interfaces
Stepped single crystal surfaces
Surface diffusion
Surface structure and topography
Surface structure, morphology
Surfaces and interfaces
thin films and whiskers (structure and nonelectronic properties)
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Summary:Evolution of the step arrangement on vicinal (0001) surfaces of an α-alumina crystal annealed for 1 h in the range of 1000–1500°C in air was investigated by atomic force microscopy. For T1200°C, steps with larger heights grow either due to direct coalescence or due to the displacement of single steps. During coalescence of steps in the whole temperature range investigated, the direction of the higher steps keeps parallel to that of the initial monosteps over hundreds of microns although it does not correspond to any low index crystalline orientation. Different mechanisms of growth of the steps are discussed. A quantitative estimation of the activation energy of one effective self diffusion process can be performed.
ISSN:0039-6028
1879-2758
DOI:10.1016/S0039-6028(98)00329-X