화학공학소재연구정보센터
Langmuir, Vol.35, No.46, 14797-14803, 2019
Ultrathin Chromia on a Hexagonally-Ordered d(0) Ferromagnet: Evidence of Interfacial Exchange Bias at the Cr2O3/TiO2-x Interface
Heterostructures consisting of 10 angstrom thick chromia films and 50 angstrom thick titania films display significant exchange bias at and above room temperature. Chromia films similar to 10 angstrom thick were deposited by molecular beam epitaxy (MBE) of Cr at room temperature in ultrahigh vacuum on 50 angstrom thick TiO2-x(III) films (x < 0.3) also deposited epitaxially by MBE on Al2O3 (0001). Cr deposition yields increased Ti(III) formation in the titania substrate and the formation of a Cr2O3 overlayer, without Cr/Ti interfacial mixing, as determined by in situ photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and electron energy loss spectroscopy (EELS). In situ low-energy electron diffraction (LEED) and XPS data indicate that the chromia overlayer is hexagonally ordered and similar to 10 angstrom thick. Longitudinal and polar magneto-optic Kerr effect (MOKE) measurements at 285-315 K provide evidence of strong exchange bias between the boundary layer magnetization of chromia and the ferromagnetic substrate. These data demonstrate the robust room-temperature interaction of the boundary layer magnetization of a multiferroic antiferromagnet with a d(0) ferromagnetic substrate.