An electron energy loss study of the epitaxial growth of iron on Cu(100)

Abstract

Iron was deposited under ultrahigh vacuum conditions on a clean Cu(100) surface followed by observation of the LEED patterns and EELS measurements. The LEED patterns showed a (1×1) structure with iron deposition indicative of epitaxial growth. Considerable changes in electron energy loss structures were observed with iron coverage. For low Fe coverages (< 2 ML) the electron energy loss peaks of Cu(100) are distinguishabke although there may be diminution in intensities and/or increase in peak widths. For higher Fe coverages, new loss features were observed. They can be associated with the fcc γ-Fe film. For a thick layer of Fe on Cu(100), the spectrum is very similar to that observed for bcc α-Fe.