Study of clean TiO2(110) surface by scanning tunneling microscopy and spectroscopy

The effect of annealing in UHV on the topographic and electronic structure of the TiO2(110) surface was studied by scanning tunneling microscopy and spectroscopy. Different (1 x n) reconstructions with domain sizes of 5-10 nm were clearly identified in the crystallographic orientation [001]. Two other types of reconstruction with periodicities of 1.69 and 1.82 nm were detected perpendicular to the [1(1) over bar1$] and [<(1)over bar 13>] crystallographic shear directions. The comparison of I/V and dI/dV spectra recorded on (1 x 1) and (1 x 2) terraces and on a disordered phase suggests a definite difference in the oxidation state of the surface Ti atoms of these arrangements.