Structural and magnetic properties of amorphous Fe/Zr multilayers

Abstract

The structure and magnetic properties of rf-sputtered Fe/Zr multilayers with ultrathin layer thicknesses, in as-deposited and annealed states, have been studied using x-ray diffraction, low- angle x-ray reflectometry, conversion electron Mössbauer spectroscopy and low-temperature magnetometry. The thickness ratio of the analysed multilayers was 0.5 and the values of the bilayer thickness was varied from 9 Å to 75 Å, maintaining constant the total thickness of the samples by controlling the number of bilayers. The results obtained show that, during sputter deposition, Fe layers with thicknesses below 20 Å are alloyed forming an amorphous phase. Those multilayers with nominal Fe layer thickness below 20 Å are composed of layers of this amorphous phase, behave as a ferromagnet below the Curie temperature , and the spin structure shows a low-temperature asperomagnetic ground state with a reduced canting of the spin structure as compared with homogeneous amorphous thin films. The structural relaxation during annealing indicates that an homogeneous Fe - Zr amorphous alloy can be produced after annealing these Fe/Zr multilayer structures.

Reversed interface effects in amorphous FeZr/AlZr multilayers

“…The critical temperature and the magnetic moment of Fe x Zr 100−x are strongly dependent on the Fe concentration and both increase up to a threshold value of about x ≈ 85 [44][45][46][47][48]. Above this concentration, T c decreases and measurements using high fields (up to 11 T) show an increase of the as determined μ [49].…”

Structural, thermal and optical characteristics of Fe 1−X Zr X alloy by using mechanical milling approach: influence of Zr4+ ion

“…This results in Br, which is broadening due to strain (Bs) + broadening due to crystallite size (Bc). [18][19][20][21][22]. Using Scherrer equation (1), based on the FWHM values, the average crystallite size (D 110 ) of Fe 1-x-Zr x alloy was determined.…”

“…Moreover, the XRD JCPDS no:06-0696 for the Fe-Zr alloy. It is mainly attributed due to two reasons: crystallite size reduction and increase in the residual strain because of their atomic radius difference of iron (Fe = 0.126 Å) is smaller than that of zirconium (Zr = 0.160 Å) and its dissolution of larger-sized solute (Zr) atoms in the Fe matrix [18][19][20][21][22]. The complete dissolution of solute (Zr) atoms in the Fe matrix after 25 h of mechanical alloying and also it increases the defects in the Fe-Zr alloy particularly dislocation density, point defects, etc.…”

Magnetic and Mössbauer studies of Fe/V multilayers

“…On the other hand, the interface of the T/LT multilayers is predicted to show a parallel anisotropy. Experimentally, however, a random spin orientation was observed at room temperature in Fe/LT multilayers (with e.g., LT = Ti [5,6], Zr [7]).…”