title: Thin-Film Reaction between [alpha]-Fe2O3 and (001) MgO.
abstract: The kinetics of a thin-film, solid-state reaction were investigated in the spinel-forming oxide system Fe2O3/MgO. In this study, epitactic thin films of Fe2O3 (α, or corundum, structure) were deposited on (001)-oriented MgO using pulsed-laser deposition (PLD). The resulting diffusion couples were then reacted at elevated temperatures in air to induce the reaction between the thin-film and bulk substrate to form the spinel, MgFe2O4. Both the as-deposited and reacted diffusion couples were characterized using low-voltage scanning and transmission electron microscopy. These techniques allow the kinetics of the reaction and the structural properties of the spinel to be investigated.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemical Engineering and Materials  Science, University of Minnesota, 421 Washington Avenue SE, 204  Amundson Hall, Minneapolis, MN 55455.
authors.forename: M T
authors.initials: MT
authors.lastname: Johnson
authors.forename: C B
authors.initials: CB
authors.lastname: Carter