Structure of self-organized Fe clusters grown on Au(111) analyzed by Grazing Incidence X-Ray Diffraction

TL;DR

This study investigates the initial growth stages and structural evolution of self-organized Fe clusters on Au(111) using grazing incidence X-ray diffraction, revealing a transition from local epitaxy to strained and relaxed phases.

Contribution

It provides detailed insights into the structural phases and epitaxial relationships of Fe clusters during early growth on Au(111).

Findings

Fe clusters exhibit local epitaxy below one monolayer.

Subsequent layers show strained fcc and relaxed bcc phases.

Structural evolution correlates with magnetic properties.

Abstract

We report a detailed investigation of the first stages of the growth of self-organized Fe clusters on the reconstructed Au(111) surface by grazing incidence X-ray diffraction. Below one monolayer coverage, the Fe clusters are in "local epitaxy" whereas the subsequent layers adopt first a strained fcc lattice and then a partly relaxed bcc(110) phase in a Kurdjumov-Sachs epitaxial relationship. The structural evolution is discussed in relation with the magnetic properties of the Fe clusters.