Menu Close

NSC OPUS: External stimuli-assisted Molecular Beam Epitaxy of functional layers and nano-structures

Topics and research objectives of the project

The scientific goal of the project is to develop innovative growth methods of
epitaxial films and nanostructures with specific structural and magnetic
properties optimized for spintronic applications. The intended effect is to be
achieved by supporting the molecular beam epitaxy (MBE) process with
electromagnetic and mechanical external stimuli, such as electric field (EF),
magnetic field (MF) or strain (SF). We expect that due to the high
susceptibility of epitaxial growth to external parameters and strong size
effects at the nanoscale, activation of these external stimuli in the MBE
process will allow for precise control of morphology, exchange interactions,
magnetic anisotropy, and magneto-transport properties. The developed technology
will be applied to selected epitaxial materials with application potential, such
as iron oxides (hematite, magnetite) and other transition metal oxides,
metal-oxide heterostructures, epitaxial metal alloys, epitaxial films on
flexible substrates, etc. Examples of expected effects of supporting the MBE
process external fields include modification of structural and magnetic phase
transitions (e.g. Morin transition in hematite), engineering of perpendicular
magnetic anisotropy, enhancement of exchange polarization in
ferromagnetic-antiferromagnetic systems.

Research team

Prof. Józef Korecki – principal investigator
Prof. Nika Spiridis
dr Kinga Freindl
dr Ewa Madej
dr Ewa Młyńczak
dr Dorota Wilgocka-Ślęzak
MSc Bohdana Blyzniuk – PhD student
MSc Adam Dziwoki – PhD student
MSc Natalia Kwiatek – PhD student

Publications

Adam Dziwoki, Bohdana Blyzniuk, Kinga Freindl, Ewa Madej, Ewa Młyńczak, Dorota Wilgocka-Ślęzak, Józef Korecki, Nika Spiridis, The Use of External Fields (Magnetic, Electric, and Strain) in Molecular Beam Epitaxy—The Method and Application Examples, Molecules 29 (2024) 3162

Bohdana Blyzniuk, Adam Dziwoki, Kinga Freindl, A. Kozioł-Rachwał, Ewa Madej, Ewa Młyńczak, M. Szpytma, Dorota Wilgocka-Ślęzak, Józef Korecki, Nika Spiridis, Magnetization reversal in Fe(001) films grown by magnetic field assisted molecular beam epitaxy, Journal of Magnetism and Magnetic Materials 586 (2023) 171151.

Adam Dziwoki, Bohdana Blyzniuk, Kinga Freindl, Ewa Madej, Ewa Młyńczak, Dorota Wilgocka-Ślęzak, Józef Korecki, Nika Spiridis, Magnetic-Field-Assisted Molecular Beam Epitaxy: Engineering of Fe3O4 Ultrathin Films on MgO(111), Materials 16 (2023) 1485.

A. Kozioł-Rachwał, N. Kwiatek, W. Skowronski, K. Grochot, J. Kanak, E. Madej, K. Freindl, J. Korecki, N. Spiridis, , Insight into the structural and magnetotransport properties of epitaxial α-Fe2O3/Pt(111) heterostructures: Role of the reversed layer sequence, Physical Review B 106 (2022) 104419.