Anomalous magnetic properties of an iron film system deposited on fracture surfaces of α-Al2O3 ceramics

An iron film percolation system is fabricated by vapour-phase deposition on fracture surfaces of α-Al2O3 ceramics. The zero-field-cooled （ZFC） and field-cooled （FC） magnetization measurement reveals that the magnetic phase of the film samples evolve from a high-temperature ferromagnetic state to a low-temperature spin-glass-like state, which is also demonstrated by the temperature-dependent ac susceptibility of the iron films. The temperature dependence of the exchange bias field He of the iron film exhibits a minimum peak around the temperature T=5 K, which is independent of the magnitude of the cooling field Hcf. However, for T 〉 10K, （1） He is always negative when Hcf=2kOe and （2） for Hcf= 20 kOe （1Oe≈80 A/m）, He changes from negative to positive values as T increases. Our experimental results show that the anomalous hysteresis properties mainly result from the oxide surfaces of the films with spin-glass-like phase.     

Formation mechanism of ordered stress-relief patterns in a free sustained Cu film system

A nearly free sustained copper （Cu） film system has been successfully fabricated by thermal evaporation deposition of Cu atoms on silicone oil surfaces, and a characteristic ordered pattern has been systematically studied. The ordered pattern, namely, band, is composed of a large number of parallel key-formed domains with different width w but nearly uniform length L; its characteristic values of w and L are very susceptible to the growth period, deposition rate and nominal film thickness. The formation mechanism of the ordered patterns is well explained in terms of the relaxation of the internal stress in the films, which is related to the nearly zero adhesion of the solid-liquid interface. By using a two-time deposition method, it is confirmed that the ordered patterns really form in the vacuum chamber.