Journal article

Lattice-resolution imaging of the sapphire (0001) surface in air by AFM

Yang Gan, Erica J Wanless, George V Franks

SURFACE SCIENCE | ELSEVIER SCIENCE BV | Published : 2007

Abstract

Lattice-resolution images of single-crystal α-alumina (sapphire) (0 0 0 1) surfaces have been obtained using contact-mode AFM under ambient conditions. It was found that the hexagonal surface lattice has a periodicity of 0.47 ± 0.11 nm, which is identical to that reported previously when the same surface was imaged in water. Large lattice corrugations (as high as 1 nm) were observed, but were concluded to be imaging artifacts because of the strong friction which causes additional deflection of the cantilever. The additional deflection of the cantilever is registered by the detector of the optical beam-deflection AFM resulting in an overestimation of the height at each lattice point. Abrupt c..

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University of Melbourne Researchers