Single phase, single orientation Cu_2O (1 0 0) and (1 1 0) thin films grown by plasma-assisted molecular beam epitaxy

Epitaxial growth of cuprous oxide (Cu_2O) has been achieved on (1 0 0) and (1 1 0) orientations of MgO by plasma-assisted molecular beam epitaxy. Growth was investigated using a pure oxygen plasma as well as a 90%Ar/10%O_2 plasma. Cu_2O films grown using pure oxygen on MgO (1 0 0) have a limited growth window and typically exhibit multiple phases and orientations. Films grown on MgO (1 1 0) using pure oxygen are phase stable and predominantly (1 1 0) oriented, with some (2 0 0) orientation present. Films grown using an Ar/O_2 plasma on MgO (1 0 0) have improved phase stability and a single (1 1 0) orientation. Growth on MgO (1 1 0) using an Ar/O_2 plasma yields highly reproducible (1 1 0) oriented single phase Cu_2O films with a much wider growth window, suggesting that this substrate orientation is preferable for Cu_2O phase stability.