Ferryl (Fe=O) termination of the hematite alpha-Fe2O3(0001) surface

Using scanning tunneling microscopy and infrared reflection absorption spectroscopy we have observed that the alpha-Fe2O3(0001) surface exhibits ferryl (Fe=O) groups, which may coexist with domains of the Fe-terminated surface. We therefore fully support ab initio calculations recently reported in t...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Published inPhysical review letters Vol. 94; no. 16; p. 166101
Main Authors Lemire, C, Bertarione, S, Zecchina, A, Scarano, D, Chaka, A, Shaikhutdinov, S, Freund, H-J
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published United States 29.04.2005
Online AccessGet more information

Cover

More Information
Summary:Using scanning tunneling microscopy and infrared reflection absorption spectroscopy we have observed that the alpha-Fe2O3(0001) surface exhibits ferryl (Fe=O) groups, which may coexist with domains of the Fe-terminated surface. We therefore fully support ab initio calculations recently reported in the literature [W. Bergmeyer, H. Schweiger, and E. Wimmer, Phys. Rev. B 69, 195409 (2004)]. The close similarity to the results on the (0001) surfaces of Cr2O3 and V2O3 strongly suggests that the M=O termination under certain oxygen pressure conditions is the most stable for the close-packed surfaces of transition metal oxides with the corundum structure.
ISSN:0031-9007
DOI:10.1103/PhysRevLett.94.166101