Magnetic and structural properties of the Fe layers in CoO/Fe/Ag(001) heterostructure

Abstract

The influence of interfacial oxidation on the magnetic behaviour of CoO covered Fe/Ag(001) is reported. Coverage with CoO causes the formation of a mixed Fe <inf>2</inf>O <inf>3</inf>-Fe <inf>3</inf>O <inf>4</inf> interfacial oxide layer. The depth of the Fe-oxide varies with the thickness of pre-covered Fe and above 8 monolayers (MLs) of Fe the oxide depth becomes constant at 2 ML. Differences in exchange bias and coercivity obtained from magnetic field and zero field cooling nearly vanish above 8 ML Fe thickness, showing a direct correlation between the magnetic behaviour of Fe and structure of the interfacial Fe-oxide layer. © 2012 American Institute of Physics. © 2012 Elsevier B.V., All rights reserved.