Morphology, structure, and magnetism of FeCo thin films electrodeposited on hydrogen-terminated Si(111) surfaces

J Colloid Interface Sci. 2007 Dec 15;316(2):510-6. doi: 10.1016/j.jcis.2007.08.032. Epub 2007 Sep 27.

Abstract

In this work we describe the fabrication of FeCo alloy (less than 10 at% Co) thin films from aqueous ammonium sulfate solutions onto n-type Si(111) substrates using potentiostatic electrodeposition at room temperature. The incorporation of Co into the deposits tends to inhibit Fe silicide formation and to protect deposits against oxidation under air exposure. As the incorporation of Co was progressively increased, the sizes of nuclei consisting of FeCo alloy increased, leading to films with a highly oriented body-centered cubic structure with crystalline texture, where (110) planes remain preferentially oriented parallel to the film surface.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Alloys / chemistry*
  • Cobalt / chemistry*
  • Electrochemistry
  • Hydrogen / chemistry*
  • Iron / chemistry*
  • Magnetics
  • Membranes, Artificial*
  • Particle Size
  • Sensitivity and Specificity
  • Silicon / chemistry*
  • Spectrophotometry / methods
  • Spectroscopy, Mossbauer / methods
  • Surface Properties
  • X-Ray Diffraction
  • X-Rays

Substances

  • Alloys
  • Membranes, Artificial
  • Cobalt
  • Hydrogen
  • Iron
  • Silicon