V2O3(0001) on Au(111) and W(110): Metal to Insulator Transition Induced by Surface Termination

TL;DR

This study demonstrates that the surface termination of V2O3 thin films on Au(111) and W(110) can induce a transition from metallic to insulating behavior, as shown by photoelectron spectroscopy.

Contribution

It reveals that surface chemistry modifications can control the electronic phase of V2O3 thin films, highlighting the role of surface termination in electronic properties.

Findings

Vanadium-terminated surface is metallic at room temperature.

Oxygen-rich vanadyl surface exhibits a gap at the Fermi level.

Surface termination influences the metal-insulator transition.

Abstract

Thin films of V2O3 have been grown on Au(111) and W(110). It is possible to prepare two different surface terminations: the first one is vanadium terminated whereas the second one exhibits additional oxygen atoms, forming vanadyl groups with the surface vanadium atoms. The electronic structure was studied for both terminations by photoelectron spectroscopy. While the first surface is metallic at room temperature like V2O3 bulk, the second surface with the vanadyl groups shows a gap at the Fermi level.