Canted magnetization in Fe thin films on highly oriented pyrolytic graphite
Journal
Journal of Applied Physics
Journal Volume
110
Journal Issue
8
Date Issued
2011
Author(s)
Abstract
Because of the unique properties of graphene, the combination of perpendicular magnetized materials and a carbon-based template is especially useful. This study examines the effect of highly oriented pyrolytic graphite (HOPG) surface defects on Fe thin films. Numerous Fe thin films were grown on planar HOPG (p-HOPG) and Ar+ sputtered HOPG (s-HOPG), for comparison. X-ray diffraction showed the preferred (110) texture for Fe films on both p-HOPG and s-HOPG. Fe/p-HOPG exhibited only in-plane magnetization. In contrast, Fe/s-HOPG exhibited the coexistence of in-plane and perpendicular magneto-optical Kerr effect hysteresis loops, indicating a stable, canted magnetization. The canted magnetization of Fe/s-HOPG persisted to at least 20 atomic monolayers and might be attributed to a volume-contributed perpendicular anisotropy. These observations are relevant to a combination of ferromagnetic thin films and graphene-related templates. © 2011 American Institute of Physics.
Other Subjects
Atomic monolayers; Carbon-based templates; Fe films; Ferromagnetic thin films; Highly oriented pyrolytic graphite; In-plane; In-plane magnetization; Magneto-optical Kerr effects; Perpendicular anisotropy; Ferromagnetic materials; Graphene; Graphite; Hysteresis loops; Kerr magnetooptical effect; Magnetization; Monolayers; Optical Kerr effect; Pyrolysis; Surface defects; Thin films; X ray diffraction; Carbon films
Type
journal article