Oxygen structures on Fe(1 1 0)

Abstract

The adsorption of oxygen on a Fe(1 1 0) single crystal has been studied by means of high resolution photoelectron spectroscopy (HRPES) and scanning tunneling microscopy (STM). Core level spectra were analyzed in detail on both clean and adsorbate covered surfaces. A shoulder on the high binding energy side of the Fe 2p core level indicates a structure comprising multiple components interpreted as an exchange split of the final state due to interaction between the 2p and 3d electrons. After adsorption of oxygen, (2×5), (2×2) and (3×1) reconstructions were observed with atomically resolved STM. The iron surface was further exposed to gradually higher doses of oxygen. Deconvolution of the O 1s HRPES spectra revealed two components separated approximately by 0.4 eV. The component at lower binding energy dominates at low coverage, while the high binding energy component increases in intensity with increasing O coverage. The formation of oxides was observed in the Fe 2p spectrum in the region between 708 and 710 eV. Further, well ordered iron oxides were grown by exposure to oxygen at 250 °C. The O 1s core level contained a single component with a binding energy similar to that of the high energy component in the just discussed O 1s spectrum. Low energy electron diffraction and STM images of this structure showed a large moiré pattern with a 22.1 A ̊ ×30.9 Å unit cell.