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Interaction of oxygen with the (110) face of a niobium single crystal

Journal Article · · Sov. Phys. - Solid State (Engl. Transl.); (United States)
OSTI ID:7355389

The low-energy electron diffraction (LEED) and contact potential difference (CPD) methods were used in vacuum better than 10/sup -10/ torr to investigate the structure of adsorbed oxygen and of the change in the work function of the (110) face of Nb in the temperature range 25--2000 degreeC. The reduction in the work function at the beginning of adsorption at room temperature was 0.6 eV and its maximum increase was 1.0 eV. No significant change in the work function was observed when oxygen was adsorbed on a crystal kept at a temperature in the range 500--2000 degreeC. The results obtained indicated that oxygen diffused to a considerable extent into the bulk of the crystal even at room temperature and this altered the structure of the (110) face of Nb; after heating, a single-crystal NbO film formed on this surface and its (111) face was oriented parallel to the substrate. When oxygen was adsorbed on a hot crystal, it was possible to obtain Nb/sup 0/ and NbO/sub 2/ films whose (110) and (100) faces were oriented parallel to the substrate surface. (AIP)

Research Organization:
Physicotechnical Institute, Sukhumi
OSTI ID:
7355389
Journal Information:
Sov. Phys. - Solid State (Engl. Transl.); (United States), Journal Name: Sov. Phys. - Solid State (Engl. Transl.); (United States) Vol. 17:12; ISSN SPSSA
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English