Epitaxially stabilized iron thin films via effective strain relief from steps

Article

关键词: FE FILMS;    FCC IRON;    MAGNETIC-ANISOTROPY;    CU(100);    CU(001);    STATES;   

DOI  :  10.1103/PhysRevB.94.045439

来源: SCIE

【 摘 要 】

The growth and electronic structures of about 7 monolayer-thick Fe thin films on a vicinal Cu(001) surface have been investigated by scanning tunneling microscopy. We find from atomically resolved observations that the Fe epitaxial fcc(001) lattice is stabilized near the step edges, while several kinds of reconstructed surfaces exist on the regions relatively far from the step edges. Statistical analyses of the surface lattices reveal the importance of high-density Cu steps serving as strain relievers to preserve epitaxially stabilized Fe fcc(001) lattice against transforming bulk stable bcc(110) lattice. Spectroscopic measurements further clarify the intrinsic electronic structures of the fcc Fe thin film in real space, implying the electronic differences between the topmost layers in 6 and 7 monolayer-thick films induced by the expansion of the lateral lattice constant.

【 授权许可】

Free