Physical and chemical properties of CeOx/SrTiO3(100) films

A study of epitaxial growth of CeOx on SrTiO3(100) surface in CeO2(100)/SrTiO3(100) orientation by reactive vapor deposition in oxygen atmosphere is desirable for widening the current knowledge in the field of ceria-based model catalysts. This work was aimed at determining physical parameters necessary for the growth of CeO2(100) films (substrate temperature, oxygen pressure and deposition rate), atomic structure of the CeO2(100) surface and structure-stoichiometry relation during reversible CeO2↔Ce2O3 transition. Surface science methods were used in order to follow the structural and chemical characteristics of prepared films, such as XPS, XPD, ISS and LEED. The morphology of the prepared films was examined in detail using scanning tunnelling microscope (STM). We also examined the interaction with platinum, which represents the next step towards designing a ceria based catalysts with low noble metal content. Also the redox interaction properties of CeOx and hydrogen were studied