Formation of superparamagnetic nanoclusters in Fe implanted Al2O3

Conversion electron Mössbauer spectroscopy (CEMS) measurements have been performed on single crystal Al2O3 implanted with 56Fe and 57Fe ions to a total fluence of 1.2×1016/cm2, corresponding to a concentration of approx. 4at.%. The CEM spectrum in the ‘as-implanted’ state is in good agreement with e...

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Published inNuclear instruments & methods in physics research. Section B, Beam interactions with materials and atoms Vol. 409; pp. 221 - 223
Main Authors Bharuth-Ram, K., Doyle, T.B., Adoons, V., Moodley, M.K., Ronning, C.
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published Elsevier B.V 15.10.2017
Subjects
Al2O3
CEMS
Fe implantation
Nanoclusters
VSM
VSM
Fe implantation
Al2O3
CEMS
Nanoclusters
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Summary:Conversion electron Mössbauer spectroscopy (CEMS) measurements have been performed on single crystal Al2O3 implanted with 56Fe and 57Fe ions to a total fluence of 1.2×1016/cm2, corresponding to a concentration of approx. 4at.%. The CEM spectrum in the ‘as-implanted’ state is in good agreement with earlier studies. Annealing at temperatures above 600°C resulted in significant changes, with the spectra after the annealing at TA≥800°C displaying paramagnetic doublets characteristic of superparamagnetic nanoclusters. Magnetization curves of the annealed sample show hysteresis loops with zero coercive field while the analysis of low temperature magnetic isotherms in terms of the Langevin function for superparamagnetic particles yields an average radius of 2–3nm for the Fe clusters.
ISSN:0168-583X
1872-9584
DOI:10.1016/j.nimb.2017.03.049