Layered indium-selenides attract attention of researchers as natural 2D-materials [1, 2]. Among the layered chalcogenides crystals In₄Se₃ seems to be less studied, although this crystals possesses not only interlayer anisotropy properties, but also a superstructure [1] and peculiarities of the interfaces formation [2], depending on the cleavage conditions [1,2].

This work is a further step to study properties of cleavage surfaces of In₄Se₃ layered crystals by means of electron microscopy and spectroscopy: LEED, AFM, SEM, STM/STS, XPS. In this study we focus on the cleavage surfaces atomic (LEED, STM, AFM), and electronic (STS, XPS) structure characterization and peculiarities of the interfaces formation on these surfaces of pure In₄Se₃ and copper intercalated In₄Se₃(Cu) crystals.

Crystal bulk and cleavages surface structure (just after cleavage) studied by XRD and LEED shows fine on orthorhombic symmetry of the crystal. The cleavages do not appear to exhibit any lateral reconstruction but are not stable in UHV along time. The quasi 2D of these layered crystals is the reason of their peculiarities with respect to interface layer formation and surface nanophases educing. The formation of In-In metallic binding and metallic phase (STS) on the free cleavage surfaces of In₄Se₃ and Cu-In-Se bindings for In₄Se₃(Cu) intercalated crystals have been found by XPS. SEM and STM also observe phases educing. STM/STS, AFM study shows complicated surfaces nano-, micro- and electronic structure on the cleavage surfaces of In₄Se₃ crystals that have been exposed in UHV.

[1] O. Balitskii, V. Savchyn, B. Jaeckel, W. Jaegermann, Phys. E. Low-dim. syst. & nanostr. 22, (2004) 921.

[2] P. Galiy, A. Musyanovych, Ya. Fiyala, Phys. E. Low-dim. syst. & nanostr. 35, (2006) 88.

• Legal notice:
  

  Copyright (c) Pielaszek Research, all rights reserved.
  The above materials, including auxiliary resources, are subject to Publisher's copyright and the Author(s) intellectual rights. Without limiting Author(s) rights under respective Copyright Transfer Agreement, no part of the above documents may be reproduced without the express written permission of Pielaszek Research, the Publisher. Express permission from the Author(s) is required to use the above materials for academic purposes, such as lectures or scientific presentations.
  In every case, proper references including Author(s) name(s) and URL of this webpage: https://science24.com/paper/11949 must be provided.

1. Optical investigations of RE-doped YAG nanoceramics
2. Studies of Interface Carbon Layer Formation on the Cleavage Surfaces of In₄Se₃ Layered Crystals by X-ray Photoelectron and Auger Electron Spectroscopy