Low energy ion irradiation of TiO2(110) – understanding evolution of surface morphology and scaling studies. Issue 7 (2nd July 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Mishra, Indrani; Joshi, Shalik Ram; Majumder, Subrata; Manna, Ashis Kumar; Varma, Shikha
• Is Part Of: Radiation effects and defects in solids. Volume 171:Issue 7/8(2016)
• Page Start: 594
• Page End: 605
• Publication Date: 2016-07-02
• Subjects: TiO2 -- AFM -- scaling -- ion irradiation; Radiation chemistry -- Periodicals; Crystals -- Defects -- Periodicals; Crystal lattices -- Periodicals; 530.416
• DOI: 10.1080/10420150.2016.1225067
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1042-0150

Abstract

ABSTRACT: Scaling properties of TiO (110) surfaces, after irradiation with 3 keV Ar ions, have been investigated here. Ion irradiation leads to the spontaneous formation of self-assembled Ti-rich nanostructures (NS) as well as Ti vacancy states. The NS thus formed are elliptical in shape and exhibit a shape transformation to less elliptical nature at high fluences. Scaling studies also reflect this transition. Scaling studies further reveal that the surfaces are self-affine in nature and with increasing fluence the regions of correlated structures, or fluctuations, spread and become bigger. This is connected to the formation of bigger NS, causing long-ranged correlations on the surface. On the other hand, at short length scales, the surfaces become less jagged as reflected by the roughness exponent of irradiated surfaces.