Sublayer-Enhanced Growth of Highly Ordered Mn 5 Ge 3 Thin Film on Si(111).

Mn 5 Ge 3 epitaxial thin films previously grown mainly on Ge substrate have been synthesized on Si(111) using the co-deposition of Mn and Ge at a temperature of 390 °C. RMS roughness decreases by almost a factor of two in the transition from a completely polycrystalline to a highly ordered growth mode. This mode has been stabilized by changing the ratio of the Mn and Ge evaporation rate from the stoichiometric in the buffer layer. Highly ordered Mn 5 Ge 3 film has two azimuthal crystallite orientations, namely Mn 5 Ge 3 (001) [1-10] and Mn 5 Ge 3 (001) [010] matching Si(111)[-110]. Lattice parameters derived a (7.112(1) Å) and c (5.027(1) Å) are close to the bulk values. Considering all structural data, we proposed a double buffer layer model suggesting that all layers have identical crystal structure with P6₃/mcm symmetry similar to Mn 5 Ge 3 , but orientation and level of Si concentration are different, which eliminates 8% lattice mismatch between Si and Mn 5 Ge 3 film. Mn 5 Ge 3 film on Si(111) demonstrates no difference in magnetic properties compared to other reported films. T C is about 300 K, which implies no significant excess of Mn or Si doping. It means that the buffer layer not only serves as a platform for the growth of the relaxed Mn 5 Ge 3 film, but is also a good diffusion barrier.