%0 Journal Article
%T Noncontact atomic force microscopy study of the spinel MgAl2O4(111) surface
%A Morten K. Rasmussen
%A Kristoffer Meinander
%A Flemming Besenbacher
%A Jeppe V. Lauritsen
%J Beilstein Journal of Nanotechnology
%D 2012
%I 
%R 10.3762/bjnano.3.21
%X Based on high-resolution noncontact atomic force microscopy (NC-AFM) experiments we reveal a detailed structural model of the polar (111) surface of the insulating ternary metal oxide, MgAl2O4 (spinel). NC-AFM images reveal a 6¡Ì3¡Á6¡Ì3R30¡ã superstructure on the surface consisting of patches with the original oxygen-terminated MgAl2O4(111) surface interrupted by oxygen-deficient areas. These observations are in accordance with previous theoretical studies, which predict that the polarity of the surface can be compensated by removal of a certain fraction of oxygen atoms. However, instead of isolated O vacancies, it is observed that O is removed in a distinct pattern of line vacancies reflected by the underlying lattice structure. Consequently, by the creation of triangular patches in a 6¡Ì3¡Á6¡Ì3R30¡ã superstructure, the polar-stabilization requirements are met.
%K aluminium oxide
%K metal oxide surfaces
%K noncontact atomic force microscopy (NC-AFM)
%K polar surfaces
%K reconstructions
%K spinel
%U http://dx.doi.org/10.3762/bjnano.3.21