Nanoscale pattern formation on the Fe3O4(111) surface

The formation of a nanoscale hexagonal pattern by light oxidation of the (1 1 1) surface of a magnetite single crystal is studied using scanning tunnelling microscopy (STM) measurements. This structure has a periodicity of 42±3 Å and is comprised of three distinct regions. STM images of the surface are strongly bias dependent. The structure is stable on the surface between room-temperature and 95 K, which lies below the Verwey transition temperature of the bulk crystal.