Observation of superstructures on the surfaces of sputtered YBa2Cu3O7-x thin films by low-energy electron diffraction

The surface structures of sputtered c-axis-oriented YBa2Cu3O7−x (YBCO) thin films were studied by means of low-energy diffraction (LEED). The in situ analysis, without exposing the films to air, showed the formation of superstructures of the YBCO (001) 2×2 and YBCO (001) 4×1 type. Air-exposed surfac...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Applied physics letters 1992-09, Vol.61 (12), p.1465-1467
Main Authors: BEHNER, H, RAUCH, W, GORNIK, E
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Condensed matter: structure, mechanical and thermal properties
Exact sciences and technology
Physics
Solid surfaces and solid-solid interfaces
Surface and interface dynamics and vibrations
Surfaces and interfaces
thin films and whiskers (structure and nonelectronic properties)
Thin film structure and morphology
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Summary:The surface structures of sputtered c-axis-oriented YBa2Cu3O7−x (YBCO) thin films were studied by means of low-energy diffraction (LEED). The in situ analysis, without exposing the films to air, showed the formation of superstructures of the YBCO (001) 2×2 and YBCO (001) 4×1 type. Air-exposed surfaces showed no LEED pattern but could be transformed into the YBCO (001) 2×2 structure by annealing at 500 °C. The observed superstructures are interpreted as being due to oxygen loss of the YBCO surface region, causing an oxygen vacancy ordering in the basal CuO planes.
ISSN:0003-6951
1077-3118
DOI:10.1063/1.107519