Morphology, orientation relationship, and stability analysis of Cu_2O nanoclusters on SrTiO_3 (100)

摘要

Reflection high energy electron diffraction, atomic force microscopy, and theoretical studies based on classical nucleation theory have been used to interpret the morphology, orientation relationship, and stability of Cu_2O nanoclusters on SrTiO_3 (100) (STO). We propose that the competing interfacial and elastic energies facilitate an in-plane rotation of the Cu_2O clusters by 45° with respect to the STO substrate and stabilize Cu_2O clusters on STO(100) with an orientation relationship of (001)_(Cu_2O)//(001)_(SrTiO_3) and <100>_(Cu_2O)//<110>_(SrTiO_3). Our preliminary theoretical analysis also suggests that this particular orientation results in smaller critical nucleus sizes and lower nucleation barriers and also indicates a chemical potential (growth rate) dependence of the orientation relationship.