The formation and structural characterization of highly (111)-oriented Co3O4 films prepared by a novel procedure from weakly (001)-oriented NaxCoO2 is reported. The NaxCoO2 films were deposited on both single crystal and amorphous substrates by chemical solution deposition (CSD) method and crystallized at 700 degrees C.
Subsequently they were transformed into (111)-oriented Co3O4 phase during post-growth annealing at 900 degrees C. The degree of preferred orientation in CO3O4, which was determined by phi-scan and pole figure measurements, depends on the content of Na in the starting Na CoO2 phase.
Surface morphology of the films was investigated using electron microscopy and atomic force microscopy.