Structure and Magnetism of Fe/Si Multilayers Grown by Ion-Beam Sputtering

TL;DR

This study investigates the structure and magnetic properties of Fe/Si multilayers prepared by ion-beam sputtering, revealing how different spacer layer structures influence magnetic coupling and layer crystallinity.

Contribution

It demonstrates that the magnetic coupling in Fe/Si multilayers depends on spacer layer crystallinity and growth conditions, linking structural phases to magnetic behavior.

Findings

Amorphous iron silicide spacers yield bulk-like Fe magnetic properties.

Crystalline silicide spacers induce antiferromagnetic interlayer coupling.

Magnetic coupling is influenced by layer crystallinity, not layering perfection.

Abstract

Ion-beam sputtering has been used to prepare Fe/Si multilayers on a variety of substrates and over a wide range of temperatures. Small-angle x-ray diffraction and transmission electron microscopy experiments show that the layers are heavily intermixed although a composition gradient is maintained. When the spacer layer is an amorphous iron silicide, the magnetic properties of the multilayers are similar to those of bulk Fe. When the spacer layer is a crystalline silicide with the B2 or DO$_3$ structure, the multilayers show antiferromagnetic interlayer coupling like that observed in ferromagnet/paramagnet multilayers such as Fe/Cr and Co/Cu. Depending on the substrate type and the growth temperature, the multilayers grow in either the (011) or (001) texture. The occurrence of the antiferromagnetic interlayer coupling is dependent on the crystallinity of the iron and iron silicide layers, but does not seem to be strongly affected by the perfection of the layering or the orientation of the film. Since the B2- and DO$_3$-structure Fe$\rm _x$Si$\rm _{1-x}$ compounds are known to be metallic, antiferromagnetic interlayer coupling in Fe/Si multilayers probably originates from the same quantum-well and Fermi surface effects as in Fe/Cr and Co/Cu multilayers.