Oxygen-vacancy-induced heterogeneous strain domains and dynamics on reducible oxide surfaces
Phys. Rev. Materials 10, 075801 – Published 7 July, 2026
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1103/wxms-98nq
Abstract
Surface defects control many functionalities of oxide nanomaterials. Here we explore the character of point defects created by surface oxygen vacancies on a reducible oxide. The surface defect is composed of the oxygen vacancy surrounded by a cation strain field extending up to 1 nm. Sensing the presence of localized surface strain on (111) ceria nanoparticle surfaces was accomplished using transmission electron microscopy. Density functional theory coupled with transmission electron microcopy image simulations have been used to interpret experimental data. Oxygen vacancy creation/annihilation processes introduce dynamic or fluxional strain at the surface and near-surface regions. While fluxional strain is highest at locations associated with less stable vacancy sites, highly heterogeneous strain fields comprising alternating tensile/compressive strains up to 2 nm in diameter are found on the surface associated with more stable oxygen vacancies. Interestingly, both stable and unstable oxygen vacancies are found within a few atomic spacings of each other on the same surface.
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New Insights into Functional Materials through Advanced Electron Microscopy
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