Atomic Layer Control of SrCuOx and Layer-By-Layer Growth of Bi₂Sr₂Can-1CunO2n+4 (n=1 to 5) on SrTiO₃ (100) by Laser Molecular-Beam-Epitaxy

The growth of SrCuO x thin layer and Bi 2 Sr 2 Ca n -1 Cu n O 2 n +4 on SrTiO 3 (100) substrate has been studied. When Sr and Cu are supplied simultaneously to the substrates to form SrCuO x , either a SrO or CuO 2 layer can form the surface layer depending upon the composition of the substrate surface. By the successive supply of the subunit-cell layers of Bi 2 Sr 2 Ca n -1 Cu n O 2 n +4 , the structures with n =1 to 5 are formed. The reflection high energy electron diffraction pattern shows streaks all through the growth, indicating two-dimensional layer growth in all the steps controlled within the monolayer accuracy.