Formation of two-dimensionally confined superparamagnetic (Mn, Ga)As nanocrystals in high-temperature annealed (Ga, Mn)As/GaAs superlattices

J Phys Condens Matter. 2013 May 15;25(19):196005. doi: 10.1088/0953-8984/25/19/196005. Epub 2013 Apr 19.

Abstract

The annealing-induced formation of (Mn, Ga)As nanocrystals in (Ga, Mn)As/GaAs superlattices was studied by x-ray diffraction, transmission electron microscopy and magnetometry. The superlattice structures with 50 Å thick (Ga, Mn)As layers separated by 25, 50 and 100 Å thick GaAs spacers were grown by molecular beam epitaxy at low temperature (250 °C), and then annealed at high temperatures of 400, 560 and 630 °C. The high-temperature annealing causes decomposition to a (Ga, Mn)As ternary alloy and the formation of (Mn, Ga)As nanocrystals inside the GaAs matrix. The nanocrystals are confined in the planes that were formerly occupied by (Ga, Mn)As layers for the up to 560 °C annealing and diffuse throughout the GaAs spacer layers at 630 °C annealing. The two-dimensionally confined nanocrystals exhibit a superparamagnetic behavior which becomes high-temperature ferromagnetism (~350 K) upon diffusion.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Arsenicals / chemistry*
  • Crystallization / methods*
  • Gallium / chemistry*
  • Hardness
  • Hot Temperature
  • Macromolecular Substances / chemistry
  • Magnesium / chemistry*
  • Magnetic Fields
  • Materials Testing
  • Metal Nanoparticles / chemistry*
  • Metal Nanoparticles / ultrastructure*
  • Molecular Conformation
  • Particle Size
  • Surface Properties

Substances

  • Arsenicals
  • Macromolecular Substances
  • gallium arsenide
  • Gallium
  • Magnesium