Formation of single-domain anatase TiO2(001)-(1 x 4) islands on SrTiO3(001) after thermal annealing

Scanning tunneling microscopy is used to investigate the appearance of nanoscale islands on the SrTiO3(001) surface following cycles of repetitive annealing. Atomic-resolution images reveal that the surface of the islands is covered by features typical of the anatase TiO2(001) surface reconstruction. Small islands display a mixed (1x4) and (1x5) reconstruction, whereas only the single-domain (1x4) reconstruction is observed on large islands. These results reveal a simple process for the creation of single-domain anatase nanoislands. (C) 2004 American Institute Of Physics.