XANES investigations of interatomic interactions in multilayered nanostructures (Co45Fe45Zr10/a-Si)40 and (Co45Fe45Zr10/SiO2)32

The electronic structure and phase composition of amorphous multilayered nanostructures (Co₄₅Fe₄₅Zr₁₀/a-Si)₄₀ and (Co₄₅Fe₄₅Zr₁₀/SiO₂)₃₂ have been investigated by means of the X-ray absorption near-edge structure (XANES) technique, which is the most sensitive and useful in investigation of the chemical environment of elements in multicomponent nanostructures. The fact of interatomic interactions leading to the formation of composite “nanoferrite”-like FeO · Fe₂O₃ · ZrO₂(CoO) was established. Also it was shown that in the mentioned nanoferrite there is an exchange interaction which involves not only two- and three-charged ions of iron (Fe²⁺ and Fe³⁺) but also ions like Zr⁴⁺ and, partially, Co²⁺. The transformation of the thin structure of L _2,3-ranges for the iron component of multilayered nanostructures in XANES spectra reflects on the change of the ratio of di- and trivalent ions in iron oxides as a part of the composite “nanoferrite.”