Double epitaxy of tetragonal and hexagonal phases in the FeSe system

• Published in: Journal of crystal growth Vol. 514; pp. 54 - 59
• Main Authors: Harris, S.B., Camata, R.P.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Amsterdam Elsevier B.V 15.05.2019; Elsevier BV
• Subjects: A1. Double epitaxy; B1. Cu-doped iron selenide; B1. Fe7Se8; B1. FeSe; B1. Iron selenide; B2. Iron-based superconductor; Crystal growth; Crystallography; Domains; Epitaxial growth; Hexagonal phase; Magnetic properties; Optical properties; Single crystals; Substrates; Thin films; Unit cell; B1. FeSe; B1. Iron selenide; B1. Cu-doped iron selenide; B2. Iron-based superconductor; A1. Double epitaxy; B1. Fe7Se8
• ISSN: 0022-0248; 1873-5002
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jcrysgro.2019.01.031

•Double epitaxial thin films of FeSe tetragonal and hexagonal phases are grown simultaneously.•Epitaxial orientation of tetragonal FeSe is selected by changing growth conditions.•Double epitaxy produces rotated domains with respect to the substrate. Epitaxial films which contain more than one crystallographic phase or orientation are of interest due to the possibility of altered magnetic, electrical, and optical properties. Thin films of FeSe have been grown on single-crystal MgO substrates under conditions that produce the simultaneous, epitaxial growth of tetragonal and hexagonal phases. We show that this double epitaxy is characterized by phase domains with a well-defined epitaxial relationship to each other and that the relative phase fraction can be controlled. For growth temperatures of 350–450 °C, the (0 0 1)-oriented tetragonal phase (β-FeSe) grows with its unit cell aligned with the cubic substrate, while a (1 0 1)-oriented hexagonal phase (Fe7Se8) shows domains with two different in-plane orientations separated by 45°. Additionally, the β-FeSe phase can be chosen to be (0 0 1)- or (1 0 1)-oriented with respect to the substrate, with the (1 0 1) orientation containing three rotated domains.