Self-assembled, periodic Fe3O4 nanostructures in ultrathin FeO(111) films on Ru(0001)

摘要

Low energy electron diffraction and scanning tunneling microscopy studies of FeO(111) films on Ru(0001) show formation of coincidence struc-tures with a Moiré pattern up to a thickness of four monolayers. In the four monolayer thick film, strained conducting Fe3O4(111) nano-domains nucleate in the insulating FeO(111) matrix and form an ordered inverse biphase superstructure. Further oxidation causes these domains to grow and to coalesce into a closed Fe3O4(111) film.