V2O3(0001) surface termination : phase equilibrium

Abstract

Complementary but independent medium-energy and low-energy ion scattering studies of the (0001) surfaces of V₂O₃ films grown on Pd(111), Au(111) and Cu₃Au(100) reveal a reconstructed full O₃-layer termination creating a VO₂ surface trilayer. This structure is fully consistent with previous calculations based on thermodynamic equilibrium at the surface during growth, but contrasts with previous suggestions that the surface termination comprises a complete monolayer of vanadyl (V = O) species.