Nanoscale Periodic Modulations on Sodium Chloride Induced by Surface Charges

Journal Article · Sun Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 2012 · Nanotechnology

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1088/0957-4484/23/18/185306· OSTI ID:1038794

Clark, Kendal W ^[1]; Qin, Shengyong ^[1]; Zhang, Xiaoguang ^[1]; Li, An-Ping ^[1]

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1. ORNL

The sodium chloride surface is one of the most common platforms for the study of catalysts, thin film growth, and atmospheric aerosols. Here we report a nanoscale periodic modulation pattern on the surface of a cleaved NaCl single crystal, revealed by non-contact atomic force microscopy with a tuning fork sensor. The surface pattern shows two orthogonal domains, extending over the entire cleavage surface. The spatial modulations exhibit a characteristic period of 5.4 nm, along 110 crystallographic directions of the NaCl. The modulations are robust in vacuum, not affected by the tip-induced electric field or gentle annealing (<300 C); however, they are eliminated after exposure to water and an atomically flat surface can be recovered by subsequent thermal annealing after water exposure. A strong electrostatic charging is revealed on the cleavage surface which may facilitate the formation of the observed metastable surface reconstruction.

• Research Organization: Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL); Center for Nanophase Materials Sciences
• Sponsoring Organization: SC USDOE - Office of Science (SC)
• DOE Contract Number: AC05-00OR22725
• OSTI ID: 1038794
• Journal Information: Nanotechnology, Journal Name: Nanotechnology Journal Issue: 18 Vol. 23; ISSN 0957-4484
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

77 NANOSCIENCE AND NANOTECHNOLOGY
AEROSOLS
ANNEALING
ATOMIC FORCE MICROSCOPY
CATALYSTS
CLEAVAGE
ELECTRIC FIELDS
ELECTROSTATICS
MODULATION
MONOCRYSTALS
SODIUM CHLORIDES
THIN FILMS
TUNING
WATER