Single‐crystal LiNbO<sub>3</sub> surfaces processed in low‐temperature hydrogen plasma: XPS, REELS and AFM study

Turčičová, Hana; Zemek, J.; Tóth, J.; Drbohlav, I.

doi:10.1002/sia.1340

Cited by 8 publications

(1 citation statement)

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“…defects at the LiNbO 3 surface were investigated by photoelectron spectroscopy, instead (Cháb and Kubátová 1986). Surface lattice defects similar to those of ion implantation or metal ion doping have been created at the lithium niobate surface by plasma processing in an attempt to produce a new kind of surface modification (Turcicová et al 2002). More recently, high resolution AFM images taken in liquid environment have demonstrated the presence of atomic size point defects at the LiNbO 3 (0 0 0 1), as shown in figure 46.…”

Section: Summary and Perspectivesmentioning

confidence: 99%

LiNbO₃surfaces from a microscopic perspective

Sanna

Schmidt

2017

J. Phys.: Condens. Matter

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A large number of oxides has been investigated in the last twenty years as possible new materials for various applications ranging from opto-electronics to heterogeneous catalysis. In this context, ferroelectric oxides are particularly promising. The electric polarization plays a crucial role at many oxide surfaces, and it largely determines their physical and chemical properties. Ferroelectrics offer in addition the possibility to control/switch the electric polarization and hence the surface chemistry, allowing for the realization of domain-engineered nanoscale devices such as molecular detectors or highly efficient catalysts. Lithium niobate (LiNbO) is a ferroelectric with a high spontaneous polarization, whose surfaces have a huge and largely unexplored potential. Owing to recent advances in experimental techniques and sample preparation, peculiar and exclusive properties of LiNbO surfaces could be demonstrated. For example, water films freeze at different temperatures on differently polarized surfaces, and the chemical etching properties of surfaces with opposite polarization are strongly different. More important, the ferroelectric domain orientation affects temperature dependent surface stabilization mechanisms and molecular adsorption phenomena. Various ab initio theoretical investigations have been performed in order to understand the outcome of these experiments and the origin of the exotic behavior of the lithium niobate surfaces. Thanks to these studies, many aspects of their surface physics and chemistry could be clarified. Yet other puzzling features are still not understood. This review gives a résumé on the present knowledge of lithium niobate surfaces, with a particular view on their microscopic properties, explored in recent years by means of ab initio calculations. Relevant aspects and properties of the surfaces that need further investigation are briefly discussed. The review is concluded with an outlook of challenges and potential payoff for LiNbO based applications.

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Section: Summary and Perspectivesmentioning

confidence: 99%