Temperature dependent energy-dispersive X-ray diffraction and magnetic study of Fe/Al interface

In situ temperature dependent energy-dispersive structural and magnetic study of electron beam evaporated Fe/Al multilayer sample (MLS) has been investigated. The structural studies show the formation of an intermixed FeAl transition layer of a few nanometers thick at the interface during deposition, which on annealing at 300 8C transforms to B2FeAl intermetallic phase. Magnetization decreases with increase in temperature and drops to minimum above 300 8C due to increase in anti-ferromagnetic interlayer coupling and formation of nonmagnetic FeAl phase at the interface. The Curie temperature (Tc) is found to be 288 8C and is much less than that of bulk bcc Fe