The electron-beam-induced reduction of transition metal oxide surfaces to metallic lower oxides

David Smith, Martha McCartney, L. A. Bursill

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

81 Scopus citations

Abstract

The clean surfaces of several maximally valent transition metal oxides, namely TiO2, Nb2O5, V2O5 and WO3, have been reduced to the corresponding binary oxide during extended observation inside a 400 keV high-resolution electron microscope. Selected-area electron diffraction patterns and optical transforms direct from the high-resolution lattice images were used to identify the oxide, while electron energy loss spectra from a sample of V2O5 eliminated the possibility that the isostructural carbide had been formed. These reduced binary oxides have a defective rocksalt structure, and they are metallic in nature, which may thereby stifle further electron-stimulated desorption of oxygen.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)299-303
Number of pages5
JournalUltramicroscopy
Volume23
Issue number3-4
DOIs
StatePublished - 1987

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Electronic, Optical and Magnetic Materials
  • Atomic and Molecular Physics, and Optics
  • Instrumentation

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