The Role of 11B4C Interlayers in Enhancing Fe/Si Multilayer Performance for Polarized Neutron MirrorsShow others and affiliations
2025 (English)In: The Journal of Physical Chemistry C, ISSN 1932-7447, E-ISSN 1932-7455, Vol. 129, no 16, p. 7921-7930Article in journal (Refereed) Published
Abstract [en]
This study investigates the effects of incorporating 11B4C interlayers into Fe/Si multilayers, with a focus on interface quality, reflectivity, polarization, and magnetic properties for polarizing neutron optics. It is found that the introduction of 1-2 & Aring; 11B4C interlayers significantly improves the interface sharpness, reducing interface width and preventing excessive Si diffusion into the Fe layers. X-ray reflectivity and polarized neutron reflectivity measurements show enhanced reflectivity and polarization, with a notable increase in polarization for 30 & Aring; period multilayers. The inclusion of interlayers also helps prevent the formation of iron-silicides, improving both the magnetic properties and neutron optical performance. However, the impact of interlayers is less pronounced in thicker-period multilayers (100 & Aring;), primarily due to the ratio between layer and interface widths. These results suggest that 11B4C interlayers offer a promising route for optimizing Fe/Si multilayer performance in polarizing neutron mirrors.
Place, publisher, year, edition, pages
AMER CHEMICAL SOC , 2025. Vol. 129, no 16, p. 7921-7930
National Category
Condensed Matter Physics
Identifiers
URN: urn:nbn:se:liu:diva-213292DOI: 10.1021/acs.jpcc.5c00068ISI: 001467593600001Scopus ID: 2-s2.0-105003578421OAI: oai:DiVA.org:liu-213292DiVA, id: diva2:1954989
Note
Funding Agencies|Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences [2009 00971]; Swedish Government Strategic Research Area in Materials Science on Functional Materials at Linkoping University [2019-04837, 2018-05190, 2021-03826]; Swedish Research Council (VR) [2022-D-03]; Hans Werthen Foundation [PH2022-0029]; Royal Academy of Sciences Physics Grant [FO2022-0273, BA23-1664]; Lars Hiertas Minne Foundation [KAW-2020.0196]; Knut and Alice Wallenberg Foundation through the Wallenberg Academy Fellows program; Paul Scherrer Institute, Switzerland
2025-04-282025-04-282026-03-05Bibliographically approved