April 22 - 26, 2024
Seattle, Washington
May 7 - 9, 2024 (Virtual)

Event Supporters

2024 MRS Spring Meeting
QT02.07.06

Epitaxial Growth and Magnetic Properties of Kagomé Metal FeSn/Elemental Ferromagnet Heterostructures

When and Where

Apr 24, 2024
5:00pm - 7:00pm
Flex Hall C, Level 2, Summit

Presenter(s)

Co-Author(s)

Prajwal Laxmeesha1,Tessa Tucker1,Rajeev Kumar Rai2,Shuchen Li3,Myoung-Woo Yoo3,Eric Stach2,Axel Hoffmann3,Steven May1

Drexel University1,University of Pennsylvania2,University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign3

Abstract

Prajwal Laxmeesha1,Tessa Tucker1,Rajeev Kumar Rai2,Shuchen Li3,Myoung-Woo Yoo3,Eric Stach2,Axel Hoffmann3,Steven May1

Drexel University1,University of Pennsylvania2,University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign3
Binary kagomé compounds <i>T<sub>m</sub>X<sub>n</sub></i> (<i>T</i>=Mn, Fe, Co; <i>X</i>=Sn, Ge; <i>m</i>:<i>n </i>= 3:1, 3:2, 1:1) have garnered significant interest due to the coexistence of topological band crossings and flat bands stemming from the geometry of the metal-site kagomé lattice. In order to harness these distinctive electronic band features for potential applications in spintronics, it is imperative to grow high-quality heterostructures. In this work, we detail the synthesis of Fe/FeSn and Co/FeSn bilayers on <i>c</i>-axis-oriented Al<sub>2</sub>O<sub>3</sub> substrates, achieved <i>via</i> molecular beam epitaxy. The use of elemental buffer layers (Fe and Co) facilitates the growth of smooth and continuous FeSn films, while also enabling the formation of heterointerfaces between elemental ferromagnetic metals and antiferromagnetic kagomé metal FeSn. Structural characterization using high-resolution X-ray diffraction, reflection high-energy electron diffraction, scanning electron microscopy and transmission electron microscopy revealed the FeSn films were flat and epitaxial with well defined interfaces. Rutherford backscattering spectrometry was used to confirm the stoichiometric window where single phase FeSn films are stabilized, while transport and magnetometry measurements were conducted to verify metallicity and magnetic ordering in the bilayers. We observe exchange bias in both bilayer systems, affirming the existence of antiferromagnetic order in FeSn, thus opening possibilities for further investigations into interfacial magnetism in kagomé heterostructures and the potential integration of these materials into spintronics devices.<br/><br/>Work at Drexel University and the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign was supported by the National Science Foundation, grant number ECCS-2031870. Work at University of Pennsylvania was supported by University of Pennsylvania Materials Research Science and Engineering Center (MRSEC) (DMR-2309043).

Keywords

molecular beam epitaxy (MBE) | quantum materials | scanning transmission electron microscopy (STEM)

Symposium Organizers

Zhong Lin, Binghamton University
Yunqiu Kelly Luo, University of Southern California
Andrew F. May, Oak Ridge National Laboratoryy
Dmitry Ovchinnikov, University of Kansas

Symposium Support

Silver
Thorlabs Bronze
Vacuum Technology Inc.

Session Chairs

Yunqiu Kelly Luo
Dmitry Ovchinnikov

In this Session