On the formation of fractal iron films

Abstract

The patterns of formation of the fractal relief of nanosized iron films on the mica surface are considered using the atomic force microscopy. In order to prevent the formation of an oxide layer, iron films were studied immediately after their production employing at a magnetron sputtering unit. It has been established that magnetron sputtering makes it possible to obtain island films of iron, the structural element of which are truncated nanocubes – nanopyramids. The fractal dimension of the resulting agglomerates was determined at various scales: on a scale of 5 µm Dc = 2,462±0,113; on a scale of 3 µm Dc = 2,373±0,122; on a scale of 1 µm Dc = 2,298±0,139. The distribution of the probability of detecting agglomerates on the films under study with a certain fractal dimension of the surface of iron films is estimated. The subsequent elemental analysis of the iron films showed the presence of oxygen and, consequently, the formation of ordered oxide films of the core-shell type.

Keywords

• atomic force microscopy
• magnetron sputtering
• fractal dimension
• iron films
• nanopyramids