Surface Reconstruction of Hexagonal Y-doped HoMnO3 and LuMnO3 studied using low-energy electron diffraction

TL;DR

This study uses low-energy electron diffraction to analyze the surface structures of hexagonal Y-doped HoMnO3 and LuMnO3, revealing bulk-like periodicity and a 2×2 surface reconstruction at high temperatures.

Contribution

It provides detailed surface structure analysis of hexagonal manganite perovskites, highlighting the presence of surface reconstruction phenomena.

Findings

Detection of bulk-terminated surface periodicity

Observation of 2×2 surface reconstruction

Surface structures vary with temperature

Abstract

We have investigated the (0001) surfaces of several hexagonal manganite perovskites by low-energy electron diffraction (LEED) in order to determine if the surface periodicity is different from that of the bulk materials. These LEED studies were conducted using near-normal incidence geometry with a low energy electron microscope (LEEM)/LEED apparatus from room temperature to 1200 degrees Celsius and with an electron energy in the range of 15-50 eV. Diffraction patterns showed features of bulk-terminated periodicity as well as a 2\times2 surface reconstruction. Possible origins for this surface reconstruction structure are discussed and comparisons are made with surface studies of other complex oxides.