title: In situ observation of the formation of Fe3O4 in Fe4N (001) due to electron irradiation.
abstract: gamma(')-Fe4N was subjected to electron irradiation with the dose rate of 6.8 x 10(23)e m(-2) s(-1) in a 400 kV transmission electron microscope. The first in situ observation of the formation of Fe3O4 (O) on Fe4N (gamma(')) with the orientation relationship of [100](O) parallel [100](gamma(')) and <001>(O) parallel <001>(gamma(')) has been made inside the microscope with the basic column vacuum of (5-6) x 10(-5) Pa. A mechanism is proposed involving the electron-stimulated dissociation of Fe-N chemical bonds, desorption of nitrogen from the surface, adsorption of oxygen to the surface, and the oxidization of excessive metallic iron on the surface.
authors.affiliation: Nanomaterials Laboratory, National Institute for Materials Science, Tsukuba 305-0003, Japan. LIU.Zhiquan@nims.go.jp
authors.forename: Z Q
authors.initials: ZQ
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Hashimoto
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Sukedai
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Song
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Mitsuishi
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Furuya