Planar vanadium oxide clusters: two-dimensional evaporation and diffusion on Rh(111)

2D honeycomb transformation into dodecagonal quasicrystals driven by electrostatic forces

Dodecagonal oxide quasicrystals are well established as examples of long-range aperiodic order in two dimensions. However, despite investigations by scanning tunneling microscopy (STM), low-energy electron diffraction (LEED), low-energy electron microscopy (LEEM), photoemission spectroscopy as well as density functional theory (DFT), their structure is still controversial. Furthermore, the principles that guide the formation of quasicrystals (QCs) in oxides are elusive since the principles that are known to drive metallic QCs are expected to fail for oxides. Here we demonstrate the solution of the oxide QC structure by synchrotron-radiation based surface x-ray diffraction (SXRD) refinement of its largest-known approximant. The oxide QC formation is forced by large alkaline earth metal atoms and the reduction of their mutual electrostatic repulsion. It drives the n = 6 structure of the 2D Ti₂O₃ honeycomb arrangement via Stone-Wales transformations into an ordered structure with empty n = 4, singly occupied n = 7 and doubly occupied n = 10 rings, as supported by DFT.

Surface structure of mass-selected niobium oxide nanoclusters on Au(111)

The structures formed by the deposition of mass-selected niobium oxide clusters, Nb₃O_y(y = 5, 6, 7), onto Au(111) were studied by scanning tunneling microscopy. The as-deposited Nb₃O₇clusters assemble into large dendritic structures that grow on the terraces as well as extend from the top and bottom of step edges. The Nb₃O₆cluster also forms dendritic assemblies but they are generally much smaller in size. The assemblies are composed of smaller discrete structures (<1 nm) which are likely to be single clusters. The dendritic assemblies for both the Nb₃O₇and Nb₃O₆clusters have fractal dimensions of about 1.7 which is very close to that expected for simple diffusion limited aggregation. Annealing the Nb₃O_7,6/Au(111) surfaces up to 550 K results in changes in assembly sizes and increases in heights, while heating to 700 results in the disruption of the assemblies into smaller structures. By contrast, the as-deposited Nb₃O₅/Au(111) surface at RT exhibits compact cluster structures which become 3D nanoparticles when annealed above 550 K. Differences in the observed surface structures and thermal stability are attributed to differences in metal-oxygen stoichiometry which can influence cluster binding energies, mobility and inter-cluster interactions.

Dynamics of Ultrathin Vanadium Oxide Layers on Rh(111) and Rh(110) Surfaces During Catalytic Reactions

Over the past 35 years rate oscillations and chemical wave patterns have been extensively studied on metal surfaces, while little is known about the dynamics of catalytic oxide surfaces under reaction conditions. Here we report on the behavior of ultrathin V oxide layers epitaxially grown on Rh(111) and Rh(110) single crystal surfaces during catalytic methanol oxidation. We use photoemission electron microscopy and low-energy electron microscopy to study the surface dynamics in the 10^-6 to 10^-2 mbar range. On VO _x /Rh(111) we find a ripening mechanism in which VO _x islands of macroscopic size move toward each other and coalesce under reaction conditions. A polymerization/depolymerization mechanism of VO _x that is sensitive to gradients in the oxygen coverage explains this behavior. The existence of a substructure in VO _x islands gives rise to an instability, in which a VO _x island shrinks and expands around a critical radius in an oscillatory manner. At 10^-2 mbar the VO _x islands are no longer stable but they disintegrate, leading to turbulent redistribution dynamics of VO _x . On the more open and thermodynamically less stable Rh(110) surface the behavior of VO _x is much more complex than on Rh(111), as V can also populate subsurface sites. At low V coverage, one finds traveling interface pulses in the bistable range. A state-dependent anisotropy of the surface is presumably responsible for intriguing chemical wave patterns: wave fragments traveling along certain crystallographic directions, and coexisting different front geometries in the range of dynamic bistability. Annealing to 1000 K causes the formation of macroscopic VO _x islands. Under more reducing conditions dendritic growth of a VO _x overlayer is observed.

Hole patterns in ultrathin vanadium oxide layers on a Rh(111) surface during catalytic oxidation reactions with NO

Various oxidation reactions with NO as oxidant have been investigated on a partially VO_x covered Rh(111) surface (θ_V = 0.3 MLE) in the 10^-4 mbar range, using photoelectron emission microscopy (PEEM) as spatially resolving method. The PEEM studies are complemented by rate measurements and by low-energy electron diffraction. In catalytic methanol oxidation with NO and in the NH₃ + NO reaction, we observe that starting from a homogeneous surface with increasing temperature first a stripe pattern develops, followed by a pattern in which macroscopic holes of nearly bare metal surface are surrounded by a VO_x film. These hole patterns represent just the inverse of the VO_x distribution patterns seen if O₂ instead of NO is used as oxidant.

Dynamics of ultrathin V-oxide layers on Rh(111) in catalytic oxidation of ammonia and CO

Catalytic oxidation of ammonia and CO has been studied in the 10⁻⁴ mbar range using a catalyst prepared by depositing ultra-thin vanadium oxide layers on Rh(111) (θ_V ≈ 0.2 MLE).

Island Ripening via a Polymerization-Depolymerization Mechanism

In catalytic methanol oxidation on ultrathin vanadium oxide layers on Rh(111) (Θ_{V}≈0.2 monolayer equivalent) we observe a 2D ripening of the VO_{x} islands that is controlled by the catalytic reaction. Neighboring VO_{x} islands move under reaction conditions towards each other and coalesce. The motion and the coalescence of the islands are explained by a polymerization-depolymerization equilibrium that is sensitive to gradients in the adsorbate coverages.

On the structural and electronic properties of hexanuclear vanadium oxide clusters V6On(-/0) (n=12-15): is V6O12 cluster planar or cage-like?

Density functional theory (DFT) calculations are carried out to investigate the structural and electronic properties of a series of hexanuclear vanadium oxide clusters V6On(-/0) (n=12-15). Generalized Koopmans' theorem is applied to predict the vertical detachment energies (VDEs) and simulate the photoelectron spectra (PES) for V6On(-) (n=12-15) clusters. Extensive DFT calculations are performed in search of the lowest-energy structures for both the anions and neutrals. All of these clusters appear to prefer the polyhedral cage structures, in contrast to the planar star-like structures observed in prior model surface studies for the V6O12 cluster. Molecular orbitals are performed to analyze the chemical bonding in the hexanuclear vanadium oxide clusters and provide insights into the sequential oxidation of V6On(-) (n=12-15) clusters. The V6On(-) (n=12-15) clusters possess well-defined V(5+) and V(3+) sites, and may serve as molecular models for surface defects. Electron spin density analyses show that the unpaired electrons in V6On(-) (n=12-14) clusters are primarily localized on the V(3+) sites rather than on the V(5+) sites. The difference gas phase versus model surface structures of V6O12 hints the critical roles of cluster-substrate interactions in stabilizing the planar V6O12 cluster on model surfaces.

Oxide Surface Science

Most metals are oxidized under ambient conditions, and metal oxides show interesting and technologically promising properties. This has motivated much recent research on oxide surfaces. The combination of scanning tunneling microscopy with first-principles density functional theory–based computational techniques provides an atomic-scale view of the properties of metal-oxide materials. Surface polarity is a key concept for predicting the stability of oxide surfaces and is discussed using ZnO as an example. This review also highlights the role of surface defects for surface reactivity, and their interplay with defects in the bulk, for the case of TiO2. Ultrathin metal-oxide films, grown either through reactive evaporation on metal single crystals or through oxidation of metal alloys (such as Al2O3/NiAl), have gained popularity as supports for planar model catalysts. The surface oxides that form upon oxidation on Pt-group metals (e.g., Ru, Rh, Pd, and Pt) are considered as model systems for CO oxidation.

Monodisperse microisland formation on Ni/Ru(0001) monolayers

The creation of identical microislands consisting of Ni trimers and multiples thereof on Ru(0001) induced by oxygen adsorption has been observed using scanning tunnelling microscopy. The island formation is caused by an oxygen induced expulsion of Ni atoms or trimers out of the moiré-distorted (densified) Ni monolayer. The exceptional stability of the Ni trimers is attributed to oxygen attachment, forming Ni-oxygen composites, as verified by detailed density functional theory calculations. The high density, identical structure, and notable thermal stability of these islands open up new perspectives for the study of the properties of nanostructured surfaces.

Synthesis and optical properties of V2O5 nanorods

A two-step method was proposed in synthesizing V2O5 nanorods on planar substrates, i.e., depositing a V2O3 thin film at approximately 220 degrees C (by heating a pure sheet of vanadium in a rough vacuum) and then heating it in air at approximately 400 degrees C. The V2O5 nanorods produced by this technique are single crystalline and could emit intense visible light at room temperature, possibly due to some defects such as oxygen vacancies which got involved during growth. This study provides a simple and low-substrate-temperature route in fabricating V2O5 nanorods on planar substrates, which might be also applicable to other metal oxides.

Bottom-up assembly of single-domain titania nanosheets on (1 x 2)-Pt(110)

A bottom-up route towards the synthesis of titania nanosheets is explored, alternative to the exfoliation of layered titanates. Nanosheets are assembled from the constituent elements and epitaxially matched to a suitable substrate: (1 x 2)-Pt(110). Their basic lepidocrocite structure is modulated at the nanoscale due to coincidence with the substrate. Density functional calculations reveal the structure details of the nanosheet, which is also shown to be in close relationship with a (001)-oriented anatase bilayer.

Ultrathin Wagon-Wheel-like TiOx Phases on Pt(111): A Combined Low-Energy Electron Diffraction and Scanning Tunneling Microscopy Investigation

Ultrathin ordered titanium oxide films on a Pt(111) surface have been prepared by reactive deposition and characterized by low-energy electron diffraction and scanning tunneling microscopy (STM). According to the postdeposition annealing condition, three different phases have been prepared which show a wagon-wheel-like (hereafter ww) morphological pattern. Two of them can be prepared as single phases (w- and w'-TiO(x)) and one (w(int)-TiO(x)) as a mixed phase which always coexists with at least one of the other two phases. All of them are formed by a Ti-O bilayer, where the Ti atoms are located at the interface with the substrate, but they show a rather distinct STM ww pattern. The experimental STM contrast has been discussed on the basis of a Moiré-like model, i.e., as deriving from a modulation of the Ti occupancy of the different substrate sites (i.e., hollow, bridge and on-top sites). The major part of the STM data can be easily interpreted on the basis of this simplified model.