Nanometers-thick self-organized Fe stripes: bridging the gap between surfaces and magnetic materials

Fruchart, Olivier; Eleoui, Mustafa; Vogel, Jan; Jubert, Pierre-Olivier; Locatelli, Andrea; Ballestrazzi, A

Nanometers-thick self-organized Fe stripes: bridging the gap between surfaces and magnetic materials

Authors

Fruchart, Olivier

Eleoui, Mustafa

Vogel, Jan

Jubert, Pierre-Olivier

Locatelli, Andrea

Ballestrazzi, A

Description

We have fabricated 5nm-high Fe(110) stripes by self-organized (SO) growth on a slightly vicinal R(110)/Al2O3(11-20) surface, with R=Mo, W. Remanence, coercivity and domain patterns were observed at room temperature (RT). This contrasts with conventional SO epitaxial systems, that are superparamagnetic or even non-magnetic at RT due to their flatness. Our process should help to overcome superparamagnetism without compromise on the lateral size if SO systems are ever to be used in applications.