Structure, composition and crystallinity of epitaxial magnetite thin films

Interface Properties of Single and Bi-Layer Fe3O4Films Grown on MgO(001) Studied by RBS and Channeling Experiments

“…The RBS data obtained for the as-grown films (with a thickness of 10-20 nm) confirmed the earlier observations by LEED and CEMS, e.g. the Mg interdiffusion in the single-layer film and the existence of a stoichiometric Fe 3 O 4 layer on the surface of the bi-layer films [6]. Our RBS investigations on annealed and irradiated films have revealed that both annealing (in partial argon atmosphere up to 600…”

“…We have recently investigated the surface and interface stoichiometry and crystalline quality of both singleand bi-layer MBE magnetite films using the Rutherford backscattering spectrometry (RBS) and RBS-channeling experiments (RBS-C) [6,7]. The RBS data obtained for the as-grown films (with a thickness of 10-20 nm) confirmed the earlier observations by LEED and CEMS, e.g.…”

“…The RBS and RBS-C experiments were performed at the Institute of Nuclear Physics of the University Frankfurt/Main. Details of the experiment conditions for RBS and RBS-C experiments have been already reported earlier [6,7]. For the data evaluation the computer code SIMNRA [9] was used taking into account the electronic stopping power data by Ziegler and Biersack, Chu + Yang's theory for electronic energy-loss straggling and Andersen's screening function to the Rutherford cross--section.…”

“…We note here that it would be meaningful to use an ultrathin Fe layer, since it can be strained to MgO substrate and follow the lattice template of MgO substrate and the strained Fe layer will allow Fe 3 O 4 epitaxy on it and thus the crystal quality of Fe 3 O 4 layer will be improved. However, in our previous study [6], if the films are thin, it was impossible to separate the Fe signal of the Fe 3 O 4 film from that of the Fe layer and thus we could not judge about the quality of each film itself for the bi-layer films. In the present work, we aim to investigate in more detail the interface properties of different interfaces in single-and bi-layer magnetite films with the total layer thickness in the range of 20-150 nm.…”

“…However, the extra Fe layer would introduce a large lattice mismatch (4%) at both Fe 3 O 4 /Fe and Fe/MgO interfaces, which can degrade the crystallinity of the film, as it was indicated by the RBS-C results [6]. We note here that it would be meaningful to use an ultrathin Fe layer, since it can be strained to MgO substrate and follow the lattice template of MgO substrate and the strained Fe layer will allow Fe 3 O 4 epitaxy on it and thus the crystal quality of Fe 3 O 4 layer will be improved.…”