Two-dimensional surface phase diagram of a multicomponent perovskite oxide: La0.8Sr0.2MnO3(110)

The many surface reconstructions of (110)-oriented lanthanum strontium manganite (La0.8Sr0.2MnO3, LSMO) were followed as a function of the oxygen chemical potential (mu(O)) and the surface cation composition. Decreasing mu(O) causes Mn to migrate across the surface, enforcing phase separation into A-site-rich areas and a variety of composition-related, structurally diverse B-site-rich reconstructions. The composition of these phase-separated structures was quantified with scanning tunneling microscopy, and these results were used to build a two-dimensional phase diagram of the LSMO(110) equilibrium surface structures.

Automated summary

The surface reconstructions of (110)-oriented lanthanum strontium manganite (LSMO) were studied as a function of oxygen chemical potential and surface cation composition. Decreasing oxygen chemical potential led to phase separation and structurally diverse reconstructions on the surface. The composition of these phase-separated structures was quantified and used to construct a two-dimensional phase diagram of the LSMO(110) equilibrium surface structures.