Preparation of thin iron films by electrodeposition and characterization of their local magnetic properties

Thin iron films with different thickness were prepared by electrodeposition. The surface morphology of the films and their local magnetic properties were studied using optical microscopy and conversion electron Mössbauer spectroscopy (CEMS). The CEMS spectra revealed an in-plane magnetic anisotropy in the iron films. Some differences between the isomer shifts of the electrodeposited iron and α-Fe associated with internal stresses were observed. Besides α-Fe, a component with a large value of the hyperfine magnetic field was registered for iron films thinner than 180 nm. It probably originates from the iron nuclei having copper atoms in the nearest neighbourhood.