Polar oxide interface stabilization by formation of metallic nanocrystals

In situ x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and ex situ transmission electron microscopy and diffraction studies of a model Fe3O4(111)/MgO(111) polar oxide interface exclude stabilization by interface faceting, reconstruction, or by formation of a continuous interfacial layer with altered stoichiometry, and uncover stabilization by dominant formation of metallic Fe(110) nanocrystals. The iron nanocrystals nucleate both at the interface and within the magnetite film and grow in a Nishiyama-Wasserman orientation relationship with a bimodal size distribution related to twinning. Minority magnetite nanocrystals were also observed, growing in the less polar (100) orientation than the magnetite (111) film. Electron transfer and bond hybridization mechanisms are likely at the metal/oxide and oxide/oxide interfaces and remain to be explored.