Reaction of Rb and oxygen overlayers with single-crystalline Bi2Sr2CaCu2O8+δ superconductors

Abstract

Single crystals of ${\mathrm{Bi}}_2{\mathrm{Sr}}_2\mathrm{Ca}{\mathrm{Cu}}_2{\mathrm{O}}_{8+\delta }$ superconductors, in situ cleaved and modified by Rb and oxygen overlayers, have been studied using ultraviolet and x-ray photoemission spectroscopy. The core-level results show that Rb strongly reacts with the Bi and O states, while the Cu and Sr states are left unchanged. This observation strongly indicates that the Bi-O plane forms the surface layer. Subsequent exposure to oxygen results in new oxygen states at the surface as monitored by the O $1s$ core-level data. For both Rb and oxygen overlayers the valence-band spectra are severely altered. In particular, new valence-band states, presumably of oxygen character, are formed.