Faceting in dilute oxygen atmospheres of group VIA metals

Abstract

Certain planes of the group VIA metals, Cr, Mo and W, which are stable in ultra high vacua, readily develop facets when heated at low homologous temperatures in oxygen pressures as low as 10^-6 Pa. We have investigated the (100) and (110) surfaces of these metals by both low energy and reflexion mode high-energy electron diffraction. The (100) surfaces of tungsten and molybdenum readily develop facets which are of {110} and {211} type. The faceting is preceded by the formation of various ordered structures characteristic of chemisorbed oxygen. The (100) surface of chromium is stable in oxygen; however, the (110) surface develops {100} facets. No simple ordered structures are observed on the (110) surface of chromium before faceting and the facets soon disappear beneath epitaxially grown oxide. On all three metals the faceting process is reversible. The smooth surface may be regenerated by heating in the absence of oxygen. The activation energy for this process is high. The effect of faceting on surface parameters is discussed with particular reference to the growth of oxide.