Magnetic properties of Co films grown on the modified Si(111) surface

The magnetic properties and domain structure of epitaxial Co films grown on a modified Si(111) surface were studied. First, the processes of growth of copper silicide nanostructures on the Si(111) surface were investigated. Copper silicide clusters were formed on the Si(111)–5.55 $\times$ 5.55–Cu surface at a substrate temperature of $\sim$550$^\circ$C. It was established that the nanostructures formed have a perfect faceting, and the lateral edges and long wire side are oriented along the Si $\langle$110$\rangle$ crystallographic directions. Then, Co films were deposited on the formed structures. The investigation of the coercive force and reduced remanent magnetization showed that the Co(111) films have the sixth-order crystalline anisotropy. It was found that the coercive force of the Co films deposited on the Cu buffer layer is approximately six times less than that of the Co films deposited on the Si(111)–5.55 $\times$ 5.55–Cu surface and Si(111)–5.55 $\times$ 5.55–Cu/(Cu–Si) cluster surface.