title: Epitaxial electrodeposition of Fe(3)O(4) thin films on the low-index planes of gold.
abstract: Half-metallic ferrimagnetic materials such as Fe(3)O(4) are of interest for use in spintronic devices. These devices exploit both the spin and charge of an electron in spin-dependent charge transport. Epitaxial thin films of Fe(3)O(4) have been grown on the three low-index planes of gold by electrodeposition. On Au(110), a [110] Fe(3)O(4) orientation that is aligned with the underlying Au(110) substrate is observed. Thin films on Au(100) grow with three different orientations: [100], [111], and [511]. On Au(111), both [111] and [511] orientations of Fe(3)O(4) are observed. The [511] orientations are the result of twinning on [111] planes. A polarization value of approximately -40% at the Fermi level was measured by spin-polarized photoemission at room temperature for a thin film on Au(111).
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry and Graduate Center for Materials Research, University of Missouri, Rolla, Rolla, Missouri 65409-1170, USA.
authors.forename: Thomas A
authors.initials: TA
authors.lastname: Sorenson
authors.forename: Simon A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Morton
authors.forename: G Dan
authors.initials: GD
authors.lastname: Waddill
authors.forename: Jay A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Switzer