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Study of Erbium Thin Film Oxidation in the Electron Microscope
Author(s) -
Murr L. E.
Publication year - 1967
Publication title -
physica status solidi (b)
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.51
H-Index - 109
eISSN - 1521-3951
pISSN - 0370-1972
DOI - 10.1002/pssb.19670240114
Subject(s) - erbium , electron microscope , torr , materials science , crystal twinning , microscope , analytical chemistry (journal) , crystallography , thin film , scanning electron microscope , recrystallization (geology) , chemistry , optics , nanotechnology , microstructure , optoelectronics , doping , composite material , physics , chromatography , thermodynamics , paleontology , biology
This paper describes the formation of suspect ErO single crystals during erbium evaporation onto NaCl in ultrahigh vacuum (10 −8 Torr); and a unique twinning phenomenon in these f.c.c. NaCl‐type crystals (a = 5.12 Å) is observed by electron microscopy. The oxidation of thin erbium foils (650 Å thickness) directly within the electron microscope by double condenser beam heating of selected areas and the sequential recrystallization and growth of the completely oxidized erbium (Er 2 O 3 ) are investigated. It is shown that the Er 2 O 3 films have a b.c.c. structural characteristic with the unit cell defined by a vacancy defect CaF 2 structure composition possessing the T 5 (I2 1 3) space group for a = 10.55 Å. Er oxidation in the electron microscope at a background pressure of roughly 10 −4 Torr appeared to be logarithmic, and presumably lattice diffusion controlled.