Granular Fe–Al2O3 films prepared by self-propagating high temperature synthesis

Abstract Taking for example the initiation of the classical solid-state reaction between Fe 2 O 3 and Al layers in films, it was shown that as a result, the granular Fe–Al 2 O 3 films consisting of Fe nanoclusters embedded in an insulating Al 2 O 3 matrix were made. It follows from the reaction equation that the Fe volume fraction in granular films is less than the percolation limit. This fact defines the magnetic properties of iron clusters, which are superparamagnetic. It is supposed that a nanocrystalline microstructure must be present in thin films after solid-state reaction, which occurs in self-propagating high temperature synthesis conditions.