Preparation of thin iron films by electrodeposition and characterization of their local magnetic properties

Thin iron films with different thickness were prepared by electrodeposition . The surface morphology of the films and their local magnetic properties w ere studied using optical microscopy and conversion electron Mossbauer spec troscopy (CEMS). The CEMS spectra revealed an in-plane magnetic anisotropy in the iron films. Some differences between the isomer shifts of the electr odeposited iron and alpha -Fe associated with internal stresses were observ ed. Besides a-Fe, a component with a large value of the hyperfine magnetic field was registered for iron films thinner than 180 nm. It probably origin ates from the iron nuclei having copper atoms in the nearest neighbourhood. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.