Interface observation of heat-treated Co/Mo2C multilayers

- Interface modification of a series of periodic Co/Mo2C multilayers as a function of the annealing temperature up to 600 °C.
- Complementary techniques to characterize the stack interfaces: ToF-SIMS, NMR, XRD, TEM.
- Periodical structure of Co/Mo2C and formation of an oxide layer at both air/stack and stack/substrate interfaces.
- Intermixing phenomenon of Co and C atoms for the as-deposited sample, and after annealing above 300 °C, Co and C atoms separate from their mixed regions.
- Calculation of the Co-C, Co-Mo and Mo-C mixing enthalpy using Miedema's model confirms the demixing of Co and C atoms above 300 °C.