Metastable fcc-Fe film epitaxially grown on Cu(100) single-crystal underlayer

Abstract

Fe film of 40 nm thickness is prepared on fcc-Cu(100) single-crystal underlayer at room temperature by ultra-high vacuum molecular beam epitaxy. The film growth and the detailed structure are investigated by reflection high-energy electron diffraction, cross-sectional high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HR-TEM), and x-ray diffraction (XRD). An Fe single-crystal with metastable fcc structure nucleates on the underlayer. The HR-TEM shows that fcc lattice is formed from the Fe/Cu interface up to the film surface. A large number of misfit dislocations are introduced around the Fe/Cu interface due to an accommodation of lattice mismatch. Dislocations exist up to the film near surface. The lattice constant is estimated by XRD to be a = 0.3607 nm. The film shows a ferromagnetic property, which reflects the property of fcc-Fe crystal with high-spin ferromagnetic state.

Computer simulation of Fe epitaxial films on a Cu(100) substrate

“…Our results are well consistent with the experimental data [4][5][6][7][8][9][10]. Studies using high-resolution transmission electron microscopy and x-ray diffraction [20] confirm the existence of the fcc phase in the iron film. The experimental lattice period of such iron is 0.3607 .…”