Formation of self-assembled cuprous oxide nano-dots on SrTiO/sub 3/(001) surfaces

Formation of self-assembled crystalline cuprous oxide (Cu/sub 2/O) nanoclusters on the SrTiO/sub 3/(001) substrate have been observed using oxygen plasma assisted molecular beam epitaxy (OPA MBE). The composition and structure were examined by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), Auger electron spectroscopy (AES), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and atomic force microscopy (AFM) in a wide range of growth parameters (temperature, oxygen pressure, and Cu flux). The parameters were optimized to obtain Cu/sub 2/O as a single phase in these structures. Understanding of the evolution of the dot shape, size and composition would allow us to optimize formation conditions to synthesize cuprous oxide nanodots with desirable parameters.