We report growth characteristics of epitaxial $\beta$-Na$_{ 0.6}$CoO$_{ 2}$ and $\gamma$-Na$_{ 0.7}$CoO$_{ 2}$ thin films on (001) sapphire substrates grown by pulsed-laser deposition. Reduction of deposition rate could change structure of Na$_{ x}$CoO$_{ 2}$ thin film from $\beta$-phase with island growth mode to $\gamma$-phase with layer-by-layer growth mode. The $\gamma$-Na$_{ 0.7}$CoO$_{ 2}$ thin film exhibits spiral surface growth with multiterraced islands and highly crystallized texture compared to that of the $\beta$-Na$_{ 0.6}$CoO$_{ 2}$ thin film. This heterogeneous epitaxial film growth can give opportunity of strain effect of physical properties and growth dynamics of Na$_{ x}$CoO$_{ 2}$ as well as subtle nature of structural change.
Categories: cond-mat.mtrl-sci