Magnetic and structural changes in Cu1−xAlx alloy matrix – Embedded Fe nanoparticle systems

Abstract We describe the atomic structure and magnetism in Fe nanoparticles (∼2 nm) ebedded in a Cu1−xAlx alloy matrix. Nanocomposite films for these studies were prepared directly from gas phase using a flexible co-deposition technique under Ultra-High Vacuum (UHV) conditions. Fe nanoparticles and the alloy matrix were prepared using a gas aggregation source and MBE sources respectively. Extended x-ray absorption fine structure (EXAFS) experiments indicate that the embedded Fe nanoparticles retain a bcc structure for Al-contents greater than x = 0.13 but, for Al-contents lower than this value, Fe nanoparticles have both fcc and bcc structures. The magnetic moment per Fe atom initially increases with increasing Al-content due to the bcc structure becoming more dominant in the embedded nanoparticles as the Al-content is increased, but then decreases with further increase in Al-content. This decrease is consistent with a modest degree of alloying between Fe and Al atoms at the particle/matrix interfaces.