Cobalt epitaxial nanoparticles on CaF2/Si(111): Growth process, morphology, crystal structure, and magnetic properties

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We study molecular beam epitaxy growth, morphology, crystal structure, and magnetic properties of Co nanoislands on CaF${}_{2}$/Si(111) surface. In order to have a full appreciation of complex growth kinetics at different stages, a comprehensive study of Co growth on CaF${}_{2}$ is carried out by atomic force, scanning electron, and transmission electron microscopies in the direct space, as well as by x-ray and electron diffraction in the reciprocal space. These experimental data are complemented by theoretical modeling. Magnetic properties are characterized by magneto-optical Kerr effect and superconducting quantum interference device magnetometries. Key effects influencing the Co growth on fluorite are addressed, including the sticking probability, the preferential nucleation sites, the size and shape time evolution, the dependence of Co morphology on temperature and Co exposure, and the coalescence mechanism. The two-stage deposition technique is developed, whereby the low-temperature seeding stage is used to facilitate Co nucleation, and the follow-up high-temperature deposition yields Co particles with high crystalline quality. Our results enable precise control over the resulting morphology, spatial ordering, and crystal structure affecting the magnetic properties. In particular, it is demonstrated that the transformation from dense to isolated Co nanoparticles leads to the change of the in-plane and out-of-plane magnetic anisotropy and also the sign of polar and longitudinal magneto-optical Kerr effects.