Magnetization and Mössbauer study of partially oxidized iron cluster films deposited on HOPG

• The iron cluster formation is described in detail.
• Iron cluster films with different thicknesses were prepared.
• A vanadium protection layer was used in specific samples.
• Magnetization properties as a function of time of exposure to air are presented.
• Mo¨ssbauer spectroscopy gave information about the different iron-oxide phases.

Iron clusters produced in a laser vaporization source were deposited to form cluster-assembled thin films with different thicknesses on highly oriented pyrolytic graphite substrates. The development of oxidation of the clusters with time, up to three years, was investigated by magnetic measurements using an alternating gradient magnetometer. Furthermore, to receive information about the oxidation states, clusters of 57Fe were studied using Mössbauer spectroscopy. The magnetic analysis shows a time evolution of the saturation magnetization, remanence, and coercivity, determined from the hysteresis curves characteristic of a progressing oxidation. The different thicknesses of the iron cluster films as well as a protective layer of vanadium influence the magnetic properties when the samples are subjected to oxidation with time. While the saturation magnetization and remanence decrease and reach half the initial values for almost all the samples after three years, the coercivity increases for all samples and is more substantial for the thickest sample with a vanadium protective layer. This value is three folded after three years. Furthermore, based on a core–shell model and using the saturation magnetization values we have been able to quantitatively calculate the amount of the increase of Fe-oxide as a function of time. The Mössbauer spectroscopy shows peaks corresponding to iron metal and maghemite.