Long-Range Atomic Order on Double-Stepped Al2O3(0001) Surfaces

The deterministic preparation of highly ordered single-crystalline surfaces is a key step for studying and utilizing the physical properties of various advanced materials. This paper presents the fast and straightforward preparation of vicinal Al2O3(0001) surfaces with micrometer-scale atomic order. Crisp electron-diffraction spots up to at least 20th order evidence atomic coherence on terraces with widths exceeding 1 mu m. The unique combination of three properties of Al2O3(0001) underlie this remarkable coherence: its high-temperature stability; the differences in the ionic bonding systems of the surface as compared to the bulk; and the fact that the terraces are non-polar whereas the step edges have a polar character. The step edges are furthermore found to have alternating configurations, which drive a step-doubling transition. On double-stepped surfaces, the Al-rich (root 31 x root 31)R +/- 9 degrees surface reconstruction attains a singular in-plane orientation. These results set a benchmark for high-quality surface preparation and thus expand the scope for both fundamental studies on and the technological utilization of exciting material systems.