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arXiv · 1210.1860

Preparation of atomically-flat SrTiO3 surfaces using a deionized-water etching and thermal annealing procedure

J. G. Connell·B. J. Isaac·D. R. Strachan·S. S. A. Seo
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Abstract

We report that a deionized water etching and thermal annealing technique can be effective for preparing atomically-flat and singly-terminated surfaces of single crystalline SrTiO3 substrates. After a two-step thermal-annealing and deionized-water etching procedure, topography measured by atomic force microscopy shows the evolution of substrates from a rough to step-terraced surface structure. Lateral force microscopy confirms that the atomically-flat surfaces are singly-terminated. Moreover, this technique can be used to remove excessive strontium oxide or hydroxide composites segregated on the SrTiO3 surface. This acid-etchant-free technique facilitates the preparation of atomically-aligned SrTiO3 substrates, which promotes studies on two-dimensional physics of complex oxide interfaces.

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J. G. Connell, B. J. Isaac, D. R. Strachan, S. S. A. Seo. 2012-10-05. Preparation of atomically-flat SrTiO3 surfaces using a deionized-water etching and thermal annealing procedure. https://doi.org/10.1063/1.4773052

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