Influence of Lewis base on the nonstoichiometry and the properties of magnetite films prepared by aqueous solution method

Lewis bases were employed to control the stoichiometry of ferrite film prep ared by light enhanced plating (LEP) technique. When 2,2'-bipyridyl was use d as a Lewis base, conversion electron Mossbauer spectroscopy (CEMS) and x- ray powder diffraction (XRD) experiments showed that the main component of the ferrite films was metal-deficient magnetite (Fe3(1-delta)O4). Nonstoich iometry and roughness of LEP films were increased by the addition of 2,2'-b ipyridyl. Using ethylenediaminetetraacetate (EDTA) as a Lewis base, produce d film that was a mixture of magnetite and gamma-FeO(OH). No low temperatur e transition (Verwey transition) of magnetite was detected in resistivity a nd ac-susceptibility measurements for the LEP films. Surface morphology of the LEP films was observed by atomic force microscopy (AFM). The size of do minant particles was about 0.2 mu m.