Real-Time Observation of Reconstruction Dynamics on TiO2(001) Surface under Oxygen via an Environmental Transmission Electron Microscope

Wentao Yuan, Yong Wang, Hengbo Li, Hanglong Wu, Ze Zhang, Annabella Selloni, Chenghua Sun

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

106 Scopus citations

Abstract

The surface atomic structure has a remarkable impact on the physical and chemical properties of metal oxides and has been studied extensively by scanning tunneling microscopy. However, acquiring real-time information on the formation and evolution of the surface structure remains a great challenge. Here we use environmental transmission electron microscopy to directly observe the stress-induced reconstruction dynamics on the (001) surface of anatase TiO2. Our in situ results unravel for the first time how the (1 × 4) reconstruction forms and how the metastable (1 × 3) and (1 × 5) patterns transform into the (1 × 4) surface stable structure. With the support of first-principles calculations, we find that the surface evolution is driven by both low coordinated atoms and surface stress. This work provides a complete picture of the structural evolution of TiO2(001) under oxygen atmosphere and paves the way for future studies of the reconstruction dynamics of other solid surfaces. (Figure Presented).

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)132-137
Number of pages6
JournalNano Letters
Volume16
Issue number1
DOIs
StatePublished - Jan 13 2016

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

  • Bioengineering
  • General Chemistry
  • General Materials Science
  • Condensed Matter Physics
  • Mechanical Engineering

Keywords

  • Oxide surface
  • environmental transmission electron microscopy (ETEM)
  • in situ TEM
  • surface dynamics
  • surface evolution
  • surface reconstruction

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