Epitaxial Electrodeposition of Fe₃O₄ Thin Films on the Low-Index Planes of Gold

Abstract

Half-metallic ferrimagnetic materials such as Fe₃O₄ are of interest for use in spintronic devices. These devices exploit both the spin and charge of an electron in spin-dependent charge transport. Epitaxial thin films of Fe₃O₄ have been grown on the three low-index planes of gold by electrodeposition. On Au(110), a [110] Fe₃O₄ orientation that is aligned with the underlying Au(110) substrate is observed. Thin films on Au(100) grow with three different orientations: [100], [111], and [511]. On Au(111), both [111] and [511] orientations of Fe₃O₄ are observed. The [511] orientations are the result of twinning on {111} planes. A polarization value of approximately -40% at the Fermi level was measured by spin-polarized photoemission at room temperature for a thin film on Au(111).

Department(s)

Physics

Second Department

Chemistry

Keywords and Phrases

Electrons; Epitaxial Growth; Gold; Iron Compounds; Photoemission; Polarization; Thin Films; Ferric Oxide; Ferromagnetic Material; Gold; Article; Conformation; Film; Ion Transport; Measurement; Polarization; Spintronic Devices

International Standard Serial Number (ISSN)

0002-7863

Document Type

Article - Journal

Document Version

Citation

File Type

text

Language(s)

English

Rights

© 2002 American Chemical Society (ACS), All rights reserved.

Publication Date

01 Jun 2002

Link to Full Text

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