Comparison of the Hafnium Diboride(0001) and Hafnium(0001) Surfaces

Abstract

AbstractThe surface properties of the (0001) surfaces of single crystals of hafnium and hafnium diboride are compared with a boride film deposited on the Hf(0001) surface. The surfaces were characterized with X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and low energy electron diffraction (LEED). Boron deposition was achieved through the thermal decomposition of diborane. The deposited boron reacts with the hafnium substrate to form HfB2 as determined by XPS and the HfB2 films were found to be epitaxial as determined by LEED. The epitaxial nature of the thin films was confirmed with X-ray diffraction. The epitaxial thin films of HfB2 on Hf(0001) display properties identical to those of the HfB2(0001) single crystal surface.