Growth and structure of ZnOx overlayers on Cu(100)

Abstract

The oxidation of ultra-thin zinc films on Cu(100) and the nature of the oxide obtained have been studied by Auger electron spectroscopy (AES), temperature-programmed desorption (TPD) and low-energy electron diffraction (LEED). The kinetics of oxidation are more facile than observed in previous studies on silver substrates, but the ordered oxide obtained upon annealing shows the same structure as that found on the Ag(100) face, i.e. closely similar to the polar, basal plane of bulk ZnO. Decomposition of the ZnO_x overlayers occurs in a number of states above 700 K and is complete by ca. 850 K. The temperature of decomposition is significantly lower than on the corresponding Ag surface and the absence of any significant O₂ desorption is indicative of the strong modification induced by the substrate.