Scanning tunneling microscopy study of Fe, Co and Cr growth on Re(0001)

Abstract

Atomically flat terraces of the Re(0001) surface with a contaminant density below 0.5% have been obtained by oxygen annealing followed by a flash to higher temperature. This Re(0001) single crystal has been used as a substrate for the deposition of Fe, Co and Cr atoms. Scanning Tunneling Microscopy experiments characterize the growth mode for the submonolayer coverage regime. Co, Cr and Fe atoms self-assemble to form monolayer high islands. Despite a large lattice mismatch between film and substrate, Co and Fe grow pseudomorphically up to half a monolayer. Cr islands are pseudomorphic only for a size below 10nm. Higher coverage leads to reconstructed islands with an element-dependent reconstruction pattern. Scanning Tunneling Spectroscopy measurements at 8K reveal the electronic properties of Fe and Re. Differential conductance measurements on the Re(0001) show the presence of standing waves, possibly due to a rhenium surface state. Atomic resolution images of Fe attached to a Re step edge lead to the conclusion that the Fe atoms occupy hcp hollow sites. A Néel magnetic ordered state of the Fe hcp monolayer is revealed with Spin-Polarized Scanning Tunneling Microscopy and Magnetic Atom Manipulation Imaging.