Investigations of the Fe3O4 (0 0 1) surface by low-energy He+ ions scattering

Abstract Energy spectra of low-energy He + ions scattered from a Fe 3 O 4 (0 0 1) surface were investigated. The observed binary elastic scattering He + –O and He + –Fe peaks indicated that the outermost surface layer is composed of both O and Fe atoms. The azimuthal scan with respect to the surface (0 1 0) direction is asymmetric which suggests an existence of an octahedral Fe-O layer. The temperature-dependent curve of the scattering ion yield, R + ( T ), has revealed two minima respectively at 138 and 100 K related to a large decrease in the scattering-peak intensities.