Investigation of Fe-Ag and Ag-Fe Interfaces in Ag-57Fe-Ag trilayer Using Nuclear Resonance Scattering under X-ray Standing Wave Conditions

TL;DR

This study uses x-ray standing waves and nuclear resonance scattering to analyze the atomic-scale structure and magnetic properties of Fe-Ag interfaces in trilayers, revealing differences in roughness and magnetic behavior affected by annealing.

Contribution

It introduces a depth-resolved, interface-specific analysis method combining XSW and NRS to characterize Fe-Ag interfaces at nanometer resolution, including effects of thermal treatment.

Findings

Fe-on-Ag interface roughness is 10 Å

Ag-on-Fe interface roughness is 6 Å

Annealing causes Fe diffusion and paramagnetic nanoparticle formation

Abstract

Understanding the interfaces of layered nanostructures is key to optimizing their structural and magnetic properties for the desired functionality. In the present work, the two interfaces of a few nm thick Fe layer in Ag-57Fe-Ag trilayers are studied with a depth resolution of a fraction of a nanometer using x-ray standing waves (XSWs) generated by an underlying [W-Si]x10 multilayer (MLT) at an x-ray incident angle around the Bragg peak of the MLT. Interface selectivity in Ag-57Fe-Ag trilayers was achieved by moving XSW antinodes across the interfaces by optimizing suitable incident angles and performing depth-resolved nuclear resonance scattering (NRS) and X-ray fluorescence (XRF) measurements for magnetic and structural properties. The combined analysis revealed that the rms roughness of 57Fe-on-Ag and Ag-on-57Fe interfaces are not equal. The roughness of the 57Fe-on-Ag interface is 10 Angstrom, while that of the Ag-on-57Fe interface is 6 Angstrom. 57Fe isotope sensitive NRS revealed that hyperfine field (HFF) at both interfaces of 57Fe-on-Ag and Ag-on-57Fe interfaces are distinct, which is consistent with the difference in interface roughnesses measured as root mean square (RMS) roughness. Thermal annealing induces 57Fe diffusion into the Ag layer, and annealing at 325 C transforms the sample into a paramagnetic state. This behavior is attributed to forming 57Fe nanoparticles within the Ag matrix, exhibiting a paramagnetic nature. These findings provide deep insights into interface properties crucial for developing advanced nanostructures and spintronic devices.