Hostname: page-component-586b7cd67f-rcrh6 Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-25T17:37:09.090Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

Surface Structure and Morphology of Mg-Segregated, Epitaxial Fe3O4 Thin Films on Mgo(001)

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  15 February 2011

J. F. Anderson
Affiliation:
Department of Physics, Tulane University, New Orleans, LA 70118
Markus Kuhn
Affiliation:
Department of Physics, Tulane University, New Orleans, LA 70118
Ulrike Diebold
Affiliation:
Department of Physics, Tulane University, New Orleans, LA 70118
K. Shaw
Affiliation:
Department of Physics/MARTECH, Florida State University, Tallahassee, FL 23206
P. Stroyanov
Affiliation:
Department of Physics/MARTECH, Florida State University, Tallahassee, FL 23206
D. Lind
Affiliation:
Department of Physics/MARTECH, Florida State University, Tallahassee, FL 23206
Get access

Abstract

We have investigated the structural and compositional changes that are induced by the segregation of substrate Mg to the surface of 1μm-thick Fe3O4 films on MgO(001). The thin films have been grown with plasma-assisted MBE, and characterization with RHEED (reflection high-energy electron diffraction), x-ray diffraction (XRD), and Superconducting Quantum Interference Device (SQUID) magnetometry show slightly strained, single-crystalline Fe3O4 films. For the surface studies, we have combined Low-Energy Electron Diffraction (LEED) and Scanning Tunneling Microscopy (STM). Initial and final surface characterization employed X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy (XPS) and Ion Scattering Spec-troscopy (ISS) respectively. The surfaces of the MBE-grown samples are flat and show a (√2 × √2)R45° reconstruction with respect to the Fe3O4 surface unit cell. We observe the onset of Mg segregation to the surface at around 700 K, with long, narrow extensions of terraces being observed growing along the [110] and [110] directions. Upon prolonged heating at 800 K, massive Mg segregation to the surface is observed. Heating in an oxygen atmosphere induces a 1×4 surface reconstruction, and results in extremely long (≈ 1000 Å), wide terraces.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © Materials Research Society 1997

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

REFERENCES

[1] Wyckoff, R., Crystal Structure, Vol. 1, Wiley & Sons, New York, 1963, pp. 79.Google Scholar
[2] Cox, P. A., Transition Metal Oxides, An Introduction to Their Electronic Structure and Properties, Clarendon Press, Oxford, (1992).Google Scholar
[3] Samsonov, G., The Oxide Handbook, IFI/Plenum, New York, (1982).Google Scholar
[4] Jansen, R., Brabers, V. A. M., and van Kempen, H., Surf. Sci., 328:237247, (1995).Google Scholar
[5] Kim, Y. J., Gao, Y., and Chambers, S. A., Surf. Sci., 371:358(1997).Google Scholar
[6] Wiesendanger, R., Shvets, I. V., and Coey, J. M. D., Vac. Sci. Technology B., 12(3):21182121, 1994.Google Scholar
[7] Wiesendanger, R., Shvets, I.V., Bürgler, D., Tarrach, G, Gündtherodt, H.-J., and Coey, J.M., Z. Phys. B, 86:1, 1992.Google Scholar
[8] Tarrach, G., Bürgler, D., Schaub, T., Wiesendanger, R., and Güntherodt, H.-J., Surf. Sei., 285:114, (1993).Google Scholar
[9] Voogt, F. C., Hibma, T., Zhang, G. L., Hoefman, M., and Niesen, L., Surf. Sci., 331–333:15081514, (1995).Google Scholar
[10] Gaines, J. M., Bloemen, P. J. H., Kolhepp, J. T., Bulle-Lieuwma, C. W. T, Wolf, R. M., Reinders, A., Jungblut, R. M., Heijden, P. A. A., van Eem-eren, J. T. W. M., aan de Stegge, J., Surf. Sci., 373:8594, (1997).Google Scholar
[11] Levin, Ernest M., Robbins, Carl R., McMurdie, Howard F., and Reser, Margie K. (Editors), Phase Diagrams for Ceramists, The American Ceramic Society, Columbus, OH, Third edition, (1964), pp 54.Google Scholar
[12] van Avlock, Wilhelm H., Editor. Handbook of Microwave Ferrite Materials. Academic Press, 1965.Google Scholar
[13] Diebold, U., Anderson, J. F., Ngl, K-On, and Vanderbilt, D.. Phys. Rev. Lett., 77(7):1322, (1996).Google Scholar