Cosegregation-Induced Epitaxial Growth of Two- and Three-Dimensional Compounds on Multicomponent Alloy Surfaces

AbstractIn this contribution the cosegregation-induced epitaxial growth of two- and three-dimensional chromium nitrides on ferritic Fe-15%Cr-N(100) (CN= 30 wt-ppm) single crystal surfaces will be discussed. The two-dimensional CrN surface compound is stable between 600 and 720°C. From the (1 × 1) LEED pattern it is inferred that the surface compound is epitaxial to the bcc(100) alloy surface. XPD and LEED-IV investigations have revealed that this surface compound consists of a single CrN compound layer plus an additional subsurface chromium layer with a huge interlayer expansion between both layers. The CrN surface precipitate formed at temperaturesT< 600°C is also epitaxially arranged on the bcc(100) substrate surface. Its structure corresponds to the rocksalt structure, i.e. the structure of the well-known bulk CrN. Starting from a sputter cleaned alloy surface the growth of the epitaxial CrN surface precipitate proceeds via the two-dimensional CrN surface nitride. After completion of this two-dimensional CrN layer the nucleation and growth of the three-dimensional CrN surface precipitate takes place.