Title: Interfaces between hexagonal and cubic oxides and their structure alternatives

Abstract

Multi-layer structure of functional materials often involves the integration of different crystalline phases. The film growth orientation thus frequently exhibits a transformation, owing to multiple possibilities caused by incompatible in-plane structural symmetry. Nevertheless, the detailed mechanism of the transformation has not yet been fully explored. Here we thoroughly probe the heteroepitaxially grown hexagonal zinc oxide (ZnO) films on cubic (001)-magnesium oxide (MgO) substrates using advanced scanning transition electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction and first principles calculations, revealing two distinct interface models of (001) ZnO/(001) MgO and (100) ZnO/(001) MgO. Here we have found that the structure alternatives are controlled thermodynamically by the nucleation, while kinetically by the enhanced Zn adsorption and O diffusion upon the phase transformation. Finally, this work not only provides a guideline for the interface fabrication with distinct crystalline phases but also shows how polar and non-polar hexagonal ZnO films might be manipulated on the same cubic substrate.

Authors:

Zhou, Hua ^[1]; Wu, Lijun ^[2]; Wang, Hui-Qiong  ^[3];

• Search DOE PAGES for author "Wang, Hui-Qiong"
• Search DOE PAGES for ORCID "0000-0002-0495-3146"

Zheng, Jin-Cheng  ^[3];

• Search DOE PAGES for author "Zheng, Jin-Cheng"
• Search DOE PAGES for ORCID "0000-0002-6292-3236"

Zhang, Lihua ^[4]; Kisslinger, Kim ^[4]; Li, Yaping  ^[5];

• Search DOE PAGES for author "Li, Yaping"
• Search DOE PAGES for ORCID "0000-0003-1061-8093"

Wang, Zhiqiang ^[5]; Cheng, Hao ^[5]; Ke, Shanming ^[6]; Li, Yu ^[6]; Kang, Junyong ^[5]; Zhu, Yimei ^[2]

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+ Show Author Affiliations

1. Xiamen Univ., Xiamen (China). Fujian Provincial Key Lab. of Semiconductors and Applications, Collaborative Innovation Center for Optoelectronic Semiconductors and Efficient Devices, Dept. of Physics; Shenzhen Univ., Shenzhen (China). College of Materials Science and Engineering and Shenzhen Key Lab. of Special Functional Materials
2. Brookhaven National Lab. (BNL), Upton, NY (United States). Condensed Matter Physics and Materials Science Dept.
3. Xiamen Univ., Xiamen (China). Fujian Provincial Key Lab. of Semiconductors and Applications, Collaborative Innovation Center for Optoelectronic Semiconductors and Efficient Devices, Dept. of Physics; Xiamen Univ. Malaysia, Sepang (Malaysia)
4. Brookhaven National Lab. (BNL), Upton, NY (United States). Center for Functional Nanomaterials (CFN)
5. Xiamen Univ., Xiamen (China). Fujian Provincial Key Lab. of Semiconductors and Applications, Collaborative Innovation Center for Optoelectronic Semiconductors and Efficient Devices, Dept. of Physics
6. Shenzhen Univ., Shenzhen (China). College of Materials Science and Engineering and Shenzhen Key Lab. of Special Functional Materials

Publication Date:

Tue Nov 14 00:00:00 EST 2017

Research Org.:

Brookhaven National Laboratory (BNL), Upton, NY (United States)

Sponsoring Org.:

USDOE Office of Science (SC), Basic Energy Sciences (BES); National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC)

OSTI Identifier:

1412654

Report Number(s):

BNL-114402-2017-JA
Journal ID: ISSN 2041-1723; R&D Project: MA015MACA; KC0201010

Grant/Contract Number:  

SC0012704; U1332105; 61227009; 91321102

Resource Type:

Accepted Manuscript

Journal Name:

Nature Communications

Additional Journal Information:

Journal Volume: 8; Journal Issue: 1; Journal ID: ISSN 2041-1723

Publisher:

Nature Publishing Group

Country of Publication:

United States

Language:

English

Subject:

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND SUPERFLUIDITY; Structural properties; Surfaces, interfaces and thin films; Transmission electron microscopy; ZnO; MgO; interface; transmission electron microscopy; atomic force microscopy