Abstract
Surface changes in ZnO single crystals electrochemically doped with hydrogen were investigated in this work using slow positron implantation spectroscopy (SPIS) combined with atomic force microscopy (AFM) and optical microscopy. It was found that hexagonally shaped pyramids were formed on the surface of hydrogen-loaded crystals.
The formation of these pyramids can be explained by hydrogen-induced plastic deformation realized by a slip in the [0001] direction. Such a picture is supported (i) by AFM where steps of a height comparable with the c-lattice parameter were found at the base of the pyramids, and (ii) by SPIS which revealed a defected subsurface layer, formed by the hydrogen-induced plastic deformation and exhibiting an enhanced concentration of open-volume defects in hydrogen-loaded crystals.