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In‐Situ Annealing of the (110) and (001) Surfaces of SrTiO 3 Nanocuboids by High‐Resolution Transmission Electron Microscopy
Author(s) -
Liberti Emanuela,
Kirkland Angus I.
Publication year - 2018
Publication title -
physica status solidi (a)
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.532
H-Index - 104
eISSN - 1862-6319
pISSN - 1862-6300
DOI - 10.1002/pssa.201800394
Subject(s) - transmission electron microscopy , materials science , annealing (glass) , sublimation (psychology) , high resolution transmission electron microscopy , chemical physics , nanotechnology , in situ , epitaxy , electron microscope , thermal , optics , chemistry , composite material , thermodynamics , psychology , physics , organic chemistry , layer (electronics) , psychotherapist
Thermal annealing of SrTiO 3 substrates is used in a wide range of applications, including films and nanoparticle growth, electronic devices, catalysis, and photocatalysis. To predict and control reaction kinetics during high temperature treatments, it is essential to understand dynamics in real time. For this purpose, in‐situ electron microscopy techniques are increasingly used, as structural changes can be monitored at the nanoscale. Herein, the authors report on the surface evolution of the (110) and (001) surfaces of SrTiO 3 nanocuboids observed in‐situ during thermal treatment at 800 °C, using aberration corrected high‐resolution transmission electron microscopy. By establishing a threshold for the cumulative electron dose, below which only temperature induced growth occurs, the authors observe the formation of epitaxial, faceted TiO islands, in agreement with previously reported results on the thermal treatment of (001) surfaces of SrTiO 3 in reducing environments. When surface evolution is a consequence of the combined effects of electron beam damage and temperature‐induced growth, structural modification of the cuboids is highly dynamic. In this case formation of faceted islands occurs rapidly in conjunction with sublimation of the cuboids at considerably larger speeds than in the case of thermal treatment.