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Thin films of MgFe 2 O 4 spinel on a (001) substrate of MgO have been heated to elevated temperatures in an applied electric field. The externally applied electric field produces a large driving force that influences the kinetic behavior of the spinel film and results in the formation of an MgO layer at the cathode due to the higher mobility of the Mg 2؉ cations in the spinel. Through the use of both scanning and transmission electron microscopy, the evolution of this layer was followed through a series of heat treatments. Analysis of the decomposition process shows that initially isolated pockets of MgO form at the cathode surface. These pockets grow and eventually coalesce to form a continuous MgO layer. The two MgO/spinel heterojunctions behave differently since one is morphologically stable while the other is morphologically unstable. TEM analysis showed that during the decomposition process, dislocation loops are formed in the vicinity of the MgO pockets. It is proposed that these dislocation loops form to accommodate the lattice misfit at the interface between the precipitating MgO and spinel.

Pulsed-laser ablation was used to deposit copper oxide onto single-crystal substrates of (0001) OC-AI2O3 at temperatures ranging up to 900°C. Prior to deposition, the substrates were chemically cleaned and annealed to create a surface structure of low-index terraces separated by crystallographic steps. After deposition, the samples were characterized using transmission electron microscopy and scanning electron Microscopy.The deposited film evolved by an island growth process, with the morphology of the particles being dependent on the growth conditions, substrate orientation, and nature of the substrate surface. Both CuO and Cu2O were produced by the depositions. The phase observed changed from CuO to Cu2O with increasing deposition temperature, as would be expected based on the equilibrium phase diagram. In depositions performed on (0001) alumina substrates with widely spaced surface steps, it was found that on some surface terraces one characteristic particle morphology was produced whereas on others a second morphology was dominant. This suggests that the plane of surface termination in the alumina lattice, which consists of a layer of either Al or O in this orientation, is influencing the growth process.