Synthesis of well-ordered ultra-thin titanium oxide films on Mo(1Â 1Â 2)

Well-ordered Mo(1 1 2)-(8 × 2)-TiOx films were grown on the Mo(1 1 2) surface. Two preparation methods, direct growth on the Mo(1 1 2) surface and indirect growth by deposition of Ti onto monolayer SiO2/Mo(1 1 2), were used. The latter method was found to be more reproducible with respect to film quality as determined by low-energy electron diffraction and scanning tunneling microscopy. The well-ordered (8 × 2)-TiOx film, for which a structure is proposed, was determined to be 1 ML and the Ti to be in an oxidation state of +3 using Auger spectroscopy, high-resolution electron energy loss spectroscopy and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy.