Molecularly-induced roughness and oxidation in cobalt/organodithiol/cobalt nanolayers synthesized by sputter-deposition and molecular sublimation

• Published in: Dalton transactions : an international journal of inorganic chemistry 2024-04, Vol.53 (14), p.6451-6458
• Main Authors: Rowe, Collin, Kumar Shanmugham, Sathish, Greczynski, Grzegorz, Hultman, Lars, le Febvrier, Arnaud, Eklund, Per, Ramanath, Ganpati
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Chemical synthesis; Cobalt; Deposition; Laminates; Oxidation; Roughening; Sublimation; Surface roughness
• ISSN: 1477-9226; 1477-9234; 1477-9234
• DOI: 10.1039/d3dt01910a

Integrating interfacial molecular nanolayers (MNL) with inorganic nanolayers is of interest for understanding processing-structure/chemistry correlations in hybrid nanolaminates. Here, we report the synthesis of Co/biphenyldithiol (BPDT)/Co nanolayer sandwiches by metal sputter-deposition and molecular sublimation. The density and surface roughness of the Co layers deposited on the native oxide are invariant with the Ar pressure p Ar during deposition. In contrast, the Co layer roughness r Co deposited on top of the BPDT MNL increases with p Ar , and correlates with a higher degree of Co oxidation. Increased roughening is attributed to MNL-accentuated self-shadowing of low mobility Co atoms at high p Ar , which consequently increases Co oxidation. These results indicating MNL-induced effects on the morphology and chemistry of the inorganic layers should be of importance for tailoring nanolayered hybrid interfaces and laminates. Co/biphenyldithiol (BPDT)/Co nanolayer sandwiches are synthesized by metal sputter deposition and molecular sublimation. These results indicate molecular-nanolayer-induced effects on the morphology and chemistry, of interest for hybrid nanolaminates.