Method of linearizing the 3d L3/L2 white line ratio as a function of magnetic moment

Radical-Induced Changes in Transition Metal Interfacial Magnetic Properties: A Blatter Derivative on Polycrystalline Cobalt

In this work, we study the interface obtained by depositing a monolayer of a Blatter radical derivative on polycrystalline cobalt. By examining the occupied and unoccupied states at the interface, using soft X-ray techniques, combined with electronic structure calculations, we could simultaneously determine the electronic structure of both the molecular and ferromagnetic sides of the interface, thus obtaining a full understanding of the interfacial magnetic properties. We found that the molecule is strongly hybridized with the surface. Changes in the core level spectra reflect the modification of the molecule and the cobalt electronic structures inducing a decrease in the magnetic moment of the cobalt atoms bonded to the molecules which, in turn, lose their radical character. Our method allowed us to screen, beforehand, organic/ferromagnetic interfaces given their potential applications in spintronics.

Quantitative Characterization by Transmission Electron Microscopy and Its Application to Interfacial Phenomena in Crystalline Materials

This paper reviews quantitative characterization via transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and its application to interfacial phenomena based on the results obtained through the studies. Several signals generated by the interaction between the specimen and the electron beam with a probe size of less than 1 nm are utilized for a quantitative analysis, which yields considerable chemical and physical information. This review describes several phenomena near the interfaces, e.g., clear solid-vapor interface (surface) segregation of yttria in the zirconia nanoparticles by an energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy analysis, the evaluation of the local magnetic moment at the grain boundary in terms of electron energy loss spectroscopy equipped with TEM, and grain boundary character dependence of the magnetism. The direct measurement of the stress to the dislocation transferred across the grain boundary and the microstructure evolution focused on the grain boundary formation caused by plastic deformation are discussed as examples of material dynamics associated with the grain boundary. Finally, the outlook for future investigations of interface studies, including the recent progress, is also discussed.

Exploring the Single Atom Spin State by Electron Spectroscopy

To control the spin state of an individual atom is an ultimate goal for spintronics. A single atom magnet, which may lead to a supercapacity memory device if realized, requires the high-spin state of an isolated individual atom. Here, we demonstrate the realization of well isolated transition metal (TM) atoms fixed at atomic defects sparsely dispersed in graphene. Core-level electron spectroscopy clearly reveals the high-spin state of the individual TM atoms at the divacancy or edge of the graphene layer. We also show for the first time that the spin state of single TM atoms systematically varies with the coordination of neighboring nitrogen or oxygen atoms. These structures can be thus regarded as the smallest components of spintronic devices with controlled magnetic behavior.

Local observation of the site occupancy of Mn in a MnFePSi compound

MnFePSi compounds are promising materials for magnetic refrigeration as they exhibit a giant magnetocaloric effect. From first principles calculations and experiments on bulk materials, it has been proposed that this is due to the Mn and Fe atoms preferentially occupying two different sites within the atomic lattice. A recently developed technique was used to deconvolve the obscuring effects of both multiple elastic scattering and thermal diffuse scattering of the probe in an atomic resolution electron energy-loss spectroscopy investigation of a MnFePSi compound. This reveals, unambiguously, that the Mn atoms preferentially occupy the 3g site in a hexagonal crystal structure, confirming the theoretical predictions. After deconvolution, the data exhibit a difference in the Fe L_{2,3} ratio between the 3f and 3g sites consistent with differences in magnetic moments calculated from first principles, which are also not observed in the raw data.

Strong coupling of the iron-quadrupole and anion-dipole polarizations in Ba(Fe(1-x)Co(x))2As2

We use a quantitative convergent beam electron diffraction based method to image the valence electron density distribution in Ba(Fe1-xCox)2As2. We show a remarkable increase in both the charge quadrupole of the Fe cations and the charge dipole of the arsenic anions upon Co doping from x=0 (Tc=0  K) to x=0.1 (Tc=22.5  K). Our data suggest that an unexpected electronic correlation effect, namely strong coupling of Fe orbital fluctuation and anion electronic polarization, is present in iron-based superconductors.

Transmission electron microscopy/electron energy loss spectroscopy measurements and ab initio calculation of local magnetic moments at nickel grain boundaries

We have determined local magnetic moments at nickel grain boundaries using a transmission electron microscopy/electron energy loss spectroscopy method assuming that the magnetic moment of Ni atoms is a linear function of the L₃/L₂ (white-line ratio) in the energy loss spectrum. The average magnetic moment measured in the grain interior was 0.55 μ_B, which agrees well with the calculated magnetic moment of pure nickel (0.62 μ_B). The local magnetic moments at the grain boundaries increased up to approximately 1.0 μ_B as the mis-orientation angle increased, and showed a maximum around 50°. The respective enhancement of local magnetic moments at the Σ5 (0.63 μ_B) and random (0.90 μ_B) grain boundaries in pure nickel was approximately 14 and 64% of the grain interior. In contrast, the average local magnetic moment at the (111) Σ3 grain boundary was found to be 0.55 μ_B and almost the same as that of the grain interior. These results are in good agreement with available ab initio calculations.

Characterisation of Co@Fe3O4 core@shell nanoparticles using advanced electron microscopy

Cobalt nanoparticles were synthesised via the thermal decomposition of Co2(CO)8 and were coated in iron oxide using Fe(CO)5. While previous work focused on the subsequent thermal alloying of these nanoparticles, this study fully elucidates their composition and core@shell structure. State-of-the-art electron microscopy and statistical data processing enabled chemical mapping of individual particles through the acquisition of energy-filtered transmission electron microscopy (EFTEM) images and detailed electron energy loss spectroscopy (EELS) analysis. Multivariate statistical analysis (MSA) has been used to greatly improve the quality of elemental mapping data from core@shell nanoparticles. Results from a combination of spatially resolved microanalysis reveal the shell as Fe3O4 and show that the core is composed of oxidatively stable metallic Co. For the first time, a region of lower atom density between the particle core and shell has been observed and identified as a trapped carbon residue attributable to the organic capping agents present in the initial Co nanoparticle synthesis.

Metallic plate corrosion and uptake of corrosion products by nafion in polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells

Nafion contamination by ferrous-alloy corrosion products, resulting in dramatic drops of the Ohmic potential, is a suspected major failure mode of polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells that make use of metallic bipolar plates. This study demonstrates the potential of scanning transmission X-ray microscopy combined with X-ray absorption and fluorescence microspectroscopy for exploring corrosion processes of Ni and Fe electrodes in contact with a hydrated Nafion film in a thin-layer cell. The imaged morphology changes of the Ni and Fe electrodes and surrounding Nafion film that result from relevant electrochemical processes are correlated to the spatial distribution, local concentration, and chemical state of Fe and Ni species. The X-ray fluorescence maps and absorption spectra, sampled at different locations, show diffusion of corrosion products within the Nafion film only in the case of the Fe electrodes, whereas the Ni electrodes appear corrosion resistant.

Mapping inelastic intensities in diffraction patterns of magnetic samples using the energy spectrum imaging technique

We present the quantitative measurement of inelastic intensity distributions in diffraction patterns with the aim of studying magnetic materials. The relevant theory based on the mixed dynamic form factor (MDFF) is outlined. Experimentally, the challenge is to obtain sufficient signal for core losses of 3d magnetic materials (in the 700-900eV energy-loss range). We compare two experimental settings in diffraction mode, i.e. the parallel diffraction and the large-angle convergent-beam electron diffraction configurations, and demonstrate the interest of using a spherical aberration corrector. We show how the energy spectrum imaging (ESI) technique can be used to map the inelastic signal in a data cube of scattering angle and energy loss. The magnetic chiral dichroic signal is measured for a magnetite sample and compared with theory.

Alternative methods of identifying the oxidation of metallic nanoparticles embedded in a matrix

We compare methods for valence-state analysis based on energy-loss near-edge structure (ELNES), including the white-line ratio (WLR), pre-edge peak (prepeak) and post-edge peak (postpeak) techniques. Starting from multiple-scattering calculations, we correlate the appearance of a prepeak in the O-K edge and postpeak in the L-edge with oxidation of a transition metal (TM). The ability to use more than one technique is especially advantageous for a nanocomposite of metallic nanoparticles embedded in a matrix, as we show for the case of iron nanoparticles in a silica matrix.

Interpretation of the postpeak in iron fluorides and oxides

A broad post-edge peak (postpeak) in the core-loss spectrum of a relatively thick TEM specimen is readily accounted for by plural scattering of the transmitted electrons, involving a core-loss and a bulk plasmon. However, we observe a prominent postpeak, about 40 eV above iron L3 edge, even in very thin films of iron fluoride. The peak gradually disappears as fluorine is removed by electron irradiation, as indicated by decay of the fluorine K-edge and change in white-line ratio, but appears when an iron film is oxidized, therefore it appears to be characteristic of iron in an oxidized state. To study its origin, we performed real-space multiple-scattering (RSMS) calculations of the near-edge fine structure of the Fe L-edge, allowing us to discuss the origin of the postpeak within the framework of electron-scattering theory. In the belief that oxygen and fluorine anions in transition-metal compounds are strong backscatters, we propose that the postpeak is a common feature of transition metals in an oxidized state and can be used as an additional verification of such oxidization in an unknown sample.

Structural and magnetic studies of Co thin films

The trend in reducing device dimension induces new physical properties and requires the development of measurement tools at the nanometer scale. This paper deals with the relation between magnetism and structure of thin films. We have chosen cobalt as a ferromagnetic layer and chromium as a bcc buffer. Magnetic and structural investigations have been led on epitaxial Co/Cr layers grown on MgO (001) substrates. The thickness of the cobalt layer varies from 0.75 to 20 nm. Investigations on the cobalt layer by EXAFS and HRTEM give evidence for a bcc or a hcp structure depending on the cobalt thickness. Magnetic measurements using SQUID indicate that the saturation magnetisation per volume unit is constant for the layers. EELS experiments have been carried out to measure any evolution in the I(L3)/I(L2) ratio for ferromagnetic layers of different thickness. We discuss the influence of structural and magnetic contributions on the evolution of the ratio with the cobalt thickness.

Energy-loss near-edge fine structures of iron nanoparticles

Body centered cubic (bcc) Fe nanoparticles were fabricated by in situ decomposition of iron fluoride films in a transmission electron microscope. Electron energy-loss near edge structure (ELNES) was used to characterize this exposure process. In particular, the L(3)/L(2) white-line intensity ratio (WLR) was used to monitor the iron valence state during exposure, and as an indicator of other properties of the iron nanoparticles. Iron nanoparticles with sizes between 2 and 20nm exhibit a constant WLR, whose value is same as that for a continuous bcc iron film, suggesting little or no dependence of the local magnetic moment or structure on the particle size. A broad but prominent peak which occurs 40eV after the L(3)-ionization threshold in the iron fluoride, is absent for a metallic iron film but reappears when the iron is converted to an oxide. Long-range ferromagnetic coupling was observed in samples densely populated with iron nanoparticles. Because there is little interaction between particles and the supporting carbon substrate, these samples provide an ideal model system for studying the influence of particle size and interparticle distance on magnetic properties.

EELS investigation of FeCo/SiO2 nanocomposites

The factors that determine the local magnetic properties of FeCo/SiO2 nanocomposite powders and films have been analysed by electron energy-loss spectroscopy (EELS) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Attention has been given to the chemical composition, the local electronic structure and the atomic arrangement. The results show that the nanoparticles from sol-gel prepared powders are generally Fe-rich, whereas they are Co-rich in sol-gel prepared films. In addition, a subnanometre oxide layer at the surface of the FeCo nanoparticles has been clearly observed in the powder sample. It is found that the magnetic moment should be partly governed by alloying effects. Numerical values of the near-surface magnetic moment have been obtained using the ab-initio layer-KKR method. These values should be helpful in understanding the layer-by-layer changes of the white line ratio close to the surface of the nanoparticles.