V2O3(0001) Surface Termination: Phase Equilibrium

Complementary but independent medium-energy and low-energy ion scattering studies of the (0001) surfaces of V2O3 films grown on Pd(111), Au(111) and Cu3Au(100) reveal a reconstructed full O-3-layer termination creating a VO2 surface trilayer. This structure is fully consistent with previous calculations based on thermodynamic equilibrium at the surface during growth, but contrasts with previous suggestions that the surface termination comprises a complete monolayer of vanadyl (V = O) species.