Crucible aperture: An effective way to reduce source oxidation in oxide molecular beam epitaxy process

Yong Seung Kim, Namrata Bansal, Seongshik Oh

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

18 Scopus citations

Abstract

Growing multielemental complex-oxide structures using a molecular beam epitaxy (MBE) technique requires precise control of each source flux. However, when the component elements have significantly different oxygen affinities, maintaining stable fluxes for easily oxidizing elements is challenging because of the source oxidation problem. Here, using Sr as a test source, the authors show that a crucible aperture insert scheme significantly reduces the source oxidation in an oxide-MBE environment. The crucible aperture insert was shaped like a disk with a hole at the center and was mounted inside the crucible; it blocks most of the oxygen species coming to the source, thus reducing the source oxidation. However, the depth of the aperture disk was critical for its performance; an ill-positioned aperture could make the flux stability even worse. With an optimally positioned aperture insert, the crucible exhibited more than four times improvement in Sr flux stability, compared to a conventional, nonapertured crucible.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)600-602
Number of pages3
JournalJournal of Vacuum Science and Technology A: Vacuum, Surfaces and Films
Volume28
Issue number4
DOIs
StatePublished - Jul 2010

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

  • Condensed Matter Physics
  • Surfaces and Interfaces
  • Surfaces, Coatings and Films

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