Stabilizing effects of Ag doping on structure and thermal stability of FeN thin films. (28th December 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Niti, ; Kumar, Yogesh; Seema, ; Reddy, V R; Vas, Joseph Vimal; Gupta, Surbhi; Stahn, Jochen; Gupta, Ajay; Gupta, Mukul
• Is Part Of: Journal of physics. Volume 34:Number 11(2022)
• Publication Date: 2021-12-28
• Subjects: transition metal mononitrides -- iron mononitride -- reactive co-sputtering -- self-diffusion -- thermal stability; Condensed matter -- Periodicals; Matière condensée -- Périodiques; Vaste stoffen; Vloeistoffen; Natuurkunde; Electronic journals; Computer network resources; 530.4105
• DOI: 10.1088/1361-648X/ac4074
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0953-8984

Abstract

Abstract: In this work, we investigated the effect of Ag doping (2–20 at.%) on the phase formation of iron mononitride (FeN) thin films. Together with deposition of FeN using reactive dc magnetron sputtering, Ag was also co-sputtered at various doping levels between 2–20 at.%. We found that doping of Ag around 5 at.% is optimum to not only improve the thermal stability of FeN but also to reduce intrinsic defects that are invariably present in (even in epitaxial) FeN. Conversion electron Mössbauer spectroscopy and N K-edge x-ray near edge absorption measurements clearly reveal a reduction of defects in Ag doped FeN samples. Moreover, Fe self-diffusion measurements carried out using secondary ion mass spectroscopy depth-profiling and polarized neutron reflectivity in 57 Fe enriched samples exhibit an appreciable reduction in Fe self-diffusion in Ag doped FeN samples. Ag being immiscible with Fe and non-reactive with N, occupies grain-boundary positions as nanoparticles and prohibits the fast Fe self-diffusion in FeN.