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Title: Interface driven magnetic interactions in nanostructured thin films of iron nanocrystallites embedded in a copper matrix

Journal Article · · Journal of Applied Physics
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1063/1.4913752· OSTI ID:22409926
 [1]; ;  [2];  [3]
  1. Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB R3T 2N2 (Canada)
  2. Department of Materials Science and Engineering, National Chung Hsing University, Taichung, Taiwan (China)
  3. Advanced Photon Source, Argonne National Laboratory, Argonne, Illinois 60439 (United States)

We have fabricated thin films of iron nanocrystallites embedded in a copper matrix using a dual ion beam assisted deposition technique. A secondary End-Hall ion beam bombarded the iron atoms during deposition altering significantly the morphology of the films and allowing for control of the intermixing between iron and copper components. Cross-sectional transmission electron microscopy and x-ray reflectometry experiments indicated that the morphology of the films was that of iron nanocrystallites embedded in a copper matrix. Rietveld refinements of the diffraction pattern identified fcc-copper and amorphous iron. An increased amount of disorder was observed with a reduction in the amount of deposited iron from a 1:1 Fe:Cu ratio to 0.25:0.75 Fe:Cu ratio. Interfacial copper-iron alloys were identified by DC susceptibility experiments through their reduced T{sub C,Alloy} (370, 310, and 280 K) compared with that of bulk iron (∼1000 K). Element specific x-ray absorption and x-ray magnetic circular dichroism experiments were performed to identify the contributions to the magnetism from the iron and the copper-iron alloy.

OSTI ID:
22409926
Journal Information:
Journal of Applied Physics, Vol. 117, Issue 17; Other Information: (c) 2015 AIP Publishing LLC; Country of input: International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA); ISSN 0021-8979
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English

Cited By (1)