Oxide Ultrathin Films

PrefaceSYNTHESIS AND PREPARATION OF OXIDE ULTRATHIN FILMSIntroductionBasic Aspects of FabricationPhysical MethodsChemical MethodsOxide Nanosheets and Buried LayersConclusions and PerspectivesCHARACTERIZATION TOOLS OF ULTRATHIN OXIDE FILMSIntroductionStructure Determination TechniquesSpectroscopy TechniquesSummaryORDERED OXIDE NANOSTRUCTURES ON METAL SURFACESIntroductionFabrication of Oxide NanostructuresNovel Structure ConceptsDimensionality Aspects: From Two- to One- to Zero-Dimensional StructuresTransition from Two- to Three-Dimensional Structures: Growth of Bulk Structures out of Interfacial LayersSynopsisUNUSUAL PROPERTIES OF OXIDES AND OTHER INSULATORS IN THE ULTRATHIN LIMITIntroductionEvolution of Band Gap with Film ThicknessElectronic Transport through Oxide Ultrathin FilmsWork Function Changes Induced by Oxide FilmsNanoporosity: Oxide Films as Molecular and Atomic SievesFlexibility of Oxide Thin Films and Polaronic DistortionConclusionsSILICA AND HIGH-k DIELECTRIC THIN FILMS IN MICROELECTRONICSIntroductionElectrical Characterization of High-k Dielectrics on SiliconTheoretical Modeling of Gate Dielectric FilmsModels of the Structure and Properties of HfO2 Gate Dielectric FilmsPolycrystalline Gate Oxide FilmsConclusions and OutlookOXIDE PASSIVE FILMS AND CORROSION PROTECTIONIntroductionElectrochemical Fundamentals of Passivation of MetalsChemical Composition, Chemical States, and Thickness of Passive Films on Metals and AlloysTwo-Dimensional Oxide Passive Films on MetalsGrowth and Nanostructure of Three-Dimensional Ultrathin Oxide FilmsCorrosion Modeling by DFTConclusionOXIDE FILMS AS CATALYTIC MATERIALS AND MODELS OF REAL CATALYSTSIntroductionOxide Thin Films Grown as SupportsSystems to Model Real CatalystsUltrathin-Film CatalystsSynopsisOXIDE FILMS IN SPINTRONICSIntroductionHistorical NotesHalf-Metallic Manganites: The Case of LSMOElectric Control of Magnetization in Oxide HeterostructuresConclusions and PerspectivesOXIDE ULTRATHIN FILMS FOR SOLID OXIDE FUEL

Prof. Gianfranco Pacchioni is the Vice-Director of the Department of Material Science at the University of Milano Bicocca. He received his degree in Chemistry from the University of Milan and was awarded his Ph. D. in Physical Chemistry from the Freie Universität Berlin, Germany. Prof. Pacchioni's research activity is directed towards theoretical aspects of surface science and material science, with particular emphasis on the properties of oxide materials, oxide ultrathin films and supported metal nanoclusters. He is author of about 400 papers, has edited a number of books and is on the editorial board of several journals.

Prof. Sergio Valeri is Director of the Department of Physics at the University of Modena and Reggio Emilia. He received his degree in Physics from the University of Bologna, Italy. Prof. Valeri's research concentrates on solid surfaces and interfaces and low dimensional systems with emphasis on structural and electronic characterization of metal-semiconductor, metal-metal and metal-oxide thin and ultrathin films and interfaces, on the interaction of energetic particles with solid surfaces, and on the development of electron spectroscopies. Prof. Valeri has authored ca 200 papers in international refereed scientific journals.ersität Berlin, Germany. Prof. Pacchioni's research activity is directed towards theoretical aspects of surface science and material science, with particular emphasis on the properties of oxide materials, oxide ultrathin films and supported metal nanoclusters. He is author of about 400 papers, has edited a number of books and is on the editorial board of several journals.

Prof. Sergio Valeri is Director of the Department of Physics at the University of Modena and Reggio Emilia. He received his degree in Physics from the University of Bologna, Italy. Prof. Valeri's research concentrates on solid surfaces and interfaces and low dimensional systems with emphasis on structural and electronic characterization of