Fe/Cr(111) interface formation investigated by synchrotron radiation-induced photoemission

The initial stages of interaction between iron and the Cr(111) clean surface have been studied at room temperature using synchrotron radiation-(SR)-induced photoemission in the 1-8 Å range of iron coverage. Analysis of the Fe3p level gave evidence for interaction between the two metals at the interface, that results in formation of a surface alloy. Annealing to 500 K of the Fe/Cr interface confirmed the alloying between the two metals and showed the segregation of Cr at the surface. In depth information has been obtained by using two incident photon energies at 5 Å Fe coverage and upon annealing the 8 Å Fe/Cr system. A comparison between the Fe3s multiplet splitting for iron in the Fe/Cr interface and for clean iron is also made. © 1993.