Iron plates were oxidised in a conventional r.f.-plasma using a mixture of
methane and water vapour. Conversion electron Mossbauer spectroscopy and Ra
man spectrometry were used to demonstrate that a complete transformation of
iron surfaces into pure (single phase) magnetite (Fe3O4) was achieved. The
thickness of the oxidised surface layer is similar to 200 nm. About 8% of
the Fe-sites (B-sites) octahedrally coordinated by oxygen are vacant. (C) 1
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