High-moment films produced by assembling nanoclusters

• Published in: IEEE transactions on magnetics Vol. 38; no. 1; pp. 141 - 145
• Main Authors: Binns, C., Louch, S., Baker, S.H., Edmonds, K.W., Maher, M.J., Thornton, S.C.
• Format: Journal Article Conference Proceeding
• Language: English
• Published: New York, NY IEEE 01.01.2002; Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers; The Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, Inc. (IEEE)
• Subjects: Agglomeration; Assembly; Atomic layer deposition; Atomic measurements; Clusters; Cobalt alloys; Condensed matter: electronic structure, electrical, magnetic, and optical properties; Deposition; Exact sciences and technology; Exposure; Extraterrestrial measurements; Iron alloys; Magnetic anisotropy; Magnetic films; Magnetic materials; Magnetic properties and materials; Magnetic properties of nanostructures; Magnetism; Nanocomposites; Nanomaterials; Nanostructure; Physics; Saturation magnetization; Thin films; Cluster; Iron; Nanostructures; Experimental study; Nanostructured materials; Magnetic circular dichroism spectrometry; Deposition process; Magnetic properties
• ISSN: 0018-9464; 1941-0069
• DOI: 10.1109/TMAG.2002.988926

We have used X-ray magnetic circular dichroism to determine the orbital and spin moments in exposed and embedded mass-selected Fe nanoclusters (250-550 atoms) deposited in situ using a gas aggregation source. The isolated and exposed particles have a total moment that increases with decreasing cluster size and reaches 2.4 /spl mu//sub B/ in 250-atom clusters. Although this is enhanced relative to the bulk, it is smaller than found in free clusters of the same size. Coating the exposed clusters with Co, however, increases the spin moment to 2.6 /spl mu//sub B/. The prospects for producing high-moment materials by cluster assembly are discussed.