The Epitaxial Growth and Oxidation of Nickel, Cobalt and Iron on Rocksalt

Abstract

The structure and orientations of films of iron, nickel and cobalt, deposited by thermal evaporation on rocksalt, have been examined by electron diffraction. The oxides, forming spontaneously on the epitaxially grown metal films, have also been examined. The results are considered in the light of current theories of epitaxy and it is shown that the lattice misfit between substrate and deposit materials is generally less important than the maintenance of correct co-ordination of atoms in the first layer. Generally no evidence of a strained deposit lattice was obtained except in the case of iron oxide films on iron.