Epitaxial growth of ferromagnetic CoxFe4-xN thin films on SrTiO3(001) and magnetic properties

Abstract

We formed CoxFe4-xN (0≤x≤2.9) epitaxial thin films on SrTiO3 (001) substrates by molecular beam epitaxy supplying solid Co and Fe and a radio frequency N2 plasma, simultaneously. The composition ratio of Co/Fe in CoxFe4-xN was controlled by changing the weight ratio of Co to Fe flakes in the crucible of the Knudsen cell used. Epitaxial growth of CoxFe4-xN thin films were confirmed by reflection high-energy electron diffraction and θ-2θ X-ray diffraction patterns. Magnetization versus magnetic field curves measured at room temperature using a vibrating sample magnetometer showed that the axis of easy magnetization was changed from [100] to [110] with increasing x in CoxFe4-xN. © 2013 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.