Fe:O:C grown by focused-electron-beam-induced deposition: magnetic and electric properties

Nanotechnology. 2011 Jan 14;22(2):025302. doi: 10.1088/0957-4484/22/2/025302. Epub 2010 Dec 7.

Abstract

We systematically study the effect of oxygen content on the magneto-transport and microstructure of Fe:O:C nanowires deposited by focused-electron-beam-induced (FEBID) deposition. The Fe/O ratio can be varied with an Fe content varying between ∼ 50 and 80 at.% with overall low C content (≈16 ± 3 at.%) by adding H(2)O during the deposition while keeping the beam parameters constant as measured by energy dispersive x-ray (EDX) spectroscopy. The room-temperature magnetic properties for deposits with an Fe content of 66-71 at.% are investigated using the magneto-optical Kerr effect (MOKE) and electric magneto-transport measurements. The nanostructure of the deposits is investigated through cross-sectional high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM) imaging, allowing us to link the observed magneto-resistance and resistivity to the transport mechanism in the deposits. These results demonstrate that functional magnetic nanostructures can be created, paving the way for new magnetic or even spintronics devices.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't