Nano-structures in YSZ(1 0 0) surfaces: Implications for metal deposition experiments

The surface morphology of yttria stabilized zirconia (YSZ)(1 0 0) single crystals are examined by AFM and XPS before and after thermal annealing in air to 1000 °C. The surfaces show a large variability in topography which can be categorized in three types: (1) surfaces with well defined terraces, (2) surfaces with etch pits and no visible terraces, (3) surfaces with large square or rectangular holes with flat bottoms. All three types of surfaces show a large number of defects (pits, adatoms, steps) originating from the manufacturing process, and certain samples show large nano-structured arrays of self-organized lines at step edges. The evolution of the surfaces with time at 1000 °C and with higher temperatures was studied. Terraces are ultimately obtained for all sample types at 1300 °C, but the terrace shape is affected by the original defect structure. This history dependence is attributed to defect interactions modifying the annealing process. This is true even for UHV samples prepared using sputter–anneal cycles. The surface type is found to affect the nucleation, growth and sintering behaviour of palladium deposited by electron beam evaporation. For type 3 samples the metal nucleates at step edges outside the holes to particles 6 Å in height, following heating to 135 °C the particles move inside the holes forming agglomerates up to 20 Å.