Understanding the Reactions Between Fe and Se Binary Diffusion Couples

Spurred by recent discoveries of high-temperature superconductivity in Fe-Se-based materials, the magnetic, electronic, and catalytic properties of iron chalcogenides have drawn significant attention. However, much remains to be understood about the sequence of phase formation in these systems. Here, we shed light on this issue by preparing a series of binary Fe-Se ultrathin diffusion couples via designed thin-film precursors and investigating their structural evolution as a function of composition and annealing temperature. Two previously unreported Fe-Se phases crystallized during the deposition process on a nominally room-temperature Si substrate in the 27-33 and 37-47% Fe (atomic percent) composition regimes. Both phases completely decompose after annealing to 200 degrees C in a nitrogen glovebox. At higher temperatures, the sequence of phase formation is governed by Se loss in the annealing process, consistent with what would be expected from the phase diagram. Films rich in Fe (53-59% Fe) crystalized during deposition as beta-FeSe (P4/nmm) with preferred c-axis orientation to the amorphous SiO2 substrate surface, providing a means to nonepitaxial self-assembly of crystallographically aligned, iron-rich beta-FeSe for future research. Our findings suggest that the crystallization of binary Fe-Se compounds at room temperature via near diffusionless transformations should be a significant consideration in future attempts to prepare metastable ternary and higher-order compounds containing Fe and Se.

Automated summary

The study investigated the phase formation sequence and crystal growth of binary Fe-Se compounds through preparing a series of Fe-Se ultrathin diffusion couples. It was found that the phase formation sequence at higher temperatures is governed by Se loss in the annealing process, consistent with what would be expected from the phase diagram. Additionally, films rich in Fe were crystallized during deposition providing a means to crystallographically aligned, iron-rich beta-FeSe for future research.