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Sari Granroth

Publications and source records attributed to Sari Granroth.

3 recordsLinked to original sources

Role of Local Structural Variation in X-ray Photoelectron Spectrum of Silicon Oxide Interfaces

We show that the broad X-ray photoelectron lines of silicon oxide on silicon arise from a continuous statistical distribution of core-level binding energies. Statistical simulations spanning compositions from Si to SiO$_2$ reproduce the full extent of this broadening, reaching 5 eV for SiO$_{1.0}$ , in quantitative agreement with 0.23 nm layer-resolved spectra reconstructed from Ar$^+$ sputtering data. This continuous distribution blurs distinct spectral fingerprints of local structural motifs, thereby challenging conventional chemical state assignment in oxide X-ray photoelectron spectra.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci

Interatomic Fe-Cr potential for modeling kinetics on Fe surfaces

To enable accurate molecular dynamics simulations of iron-chromium alloys with surfaces, we develop, based on density-functional-theory (DFT) calculations, a new interatomic Fe-Cr potential in the Tersoff formalism. Contrary to previous potential models, which have been designed for bulk Fe-Cr, we extend our potential fitting database to include not only conventional bulk properties but also surface-segregation energies of Cr in bcc Fe. In terms of reproducing our DFT results for the bulk properties, the new potential is found to be superior to the previously developed Tersoff potential and competitive with the concentration-dependent and two-band embedded-atom-method potentials. For Cr segregation toward the surface of an Fe-Cr alloy, only the new potential agrees with our DFT calculations in predicting preferential segregation of Cr to the topmost surface layer, instead of the second layer preferred by the other potentials. We expect this rectification to foster future research, e.g., on the mechanisms of corrosion resistance of stainless steels at the atomic level.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci

Interface characterization of Co2MnGe/Rh2CuSn Heusler multilayers

All-Heusler multilayer structures have been investigated by means of high kinetic x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and x-ray magnetic circular dichroism, aiming to address the amount of disorder and interface diffusion induced by annealing of the multilayer structure. The studied multilayers consist of ferromagnetic Co$_2$MnGe and non-magnetic Rh$_2$CuSn layers with varying thicknesses. We find that diffusion begins already at comparably low temperatures between 200 $^{\circ}$C and 250 $^{\circ}$C, where Mn appears to be most prone to diffusion. We also find evidence for a 4 Å thick magnetically dead layer that, together with the identified interlayer diffusion, are likely reasons for the small magnetoresistance found for current-perpendicular-to-plane giant magneto-resistance devices based on this all-Heusler system.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci