Structural properties of ultrathin bcc Co (0 0 1) layers

• Published in: Journal of crystal growth Vol. 252; no. 1; pp. 120 - 127
• Main Authors: Blomqvist, P., Wäppling, R.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Amsterdam Elsevier B.V 01.05.2003; Elsevier
• Subjects: A1. X-ray diffraction; A3. Fe/Co superlattices; Applied sciences; B1. Body-centered cubic cobalt; Condensed matter: structure, mechanical and thermal properties; Exact sciences and technology; Low-dimensional structures (superlattices, quantum well structures, multilayers): structure, and nonelectronic properties; Metals. Metallurgy; Physics; Structure and morphology; thickness; Surfaces and interfaces; thin films and whiskers (structure and nonelectronic properties); Thin film structure and morphology; 61.10.Eq; A3. Fe/Co superlattices; A1. X-ray diffraction; B1. Body-centered cubic cobalt; Ultrathin films; 61.10.Eq A1. X-ray diffraction; Roughness; Bl. Body-centered cubic cobalt; Interdiffusion; Iron; Solid-solid interfaces; RHEED; Experimental study; Cobalt; Crystal perfection; Thermal stability; Thin films; Multilayers; BCC lattices; Temperature effects; Transition elements; Superlattices; Diffusion
• ISSN: 0022-0248; 1873-5002
• DOI: 10.1016/S0022-0248(03)00885-6

Ultrathin layers (2–6 atomic monolayers) of the body-centered cubic (bcc) Co phase have been investigated by X-ray diffraction. Single-crystalline MgO (0 0 1) substrates and thin layers of Fe have been used to stabilize a (0 0 1) oriented single-crystalline bcc Co structure. The Co-on-Fe (Co deposited on Fe) interfaces in the Fe/Co superlattices are found to be abrupt up to a substrate temperature of about 500°C whereas the Fe-on-Co (Fe deposited on Co) interfaces become more diffuse at 350°C due to interdiffusion of Fe into the Co layers. The structural quality of the Fe/Co superlattices exhibits a strong temperature dependence. A marked decrease of the linewidth of the Fe/Co (0 0 2) Bragg peak with increased growth temperature is found for superlattices with high Co content. The decrease is attributed to the interdiffusion of Fe into the bcc Co layers.