Self-diffusion processes in stoichiometric iron mononitride

In this work, we studied atomic self-diffusion and structural phase transformation in a single iron mononitride (FeN) thin film deposited at an optimized substrate temperature (Ts) of 423 K. At Ts, the FeN exhibits tetrahedral coordination between Fe N atoms (ZnS-type structure with lattice parameter 4.28 Å). The was by combining x-ray diffraction K-edge absorption spectroscopy conversion electron Mössbauer measurements. Self-diffusion measured using secondary ion mass depth profiling trilayer structures: [FeN(50 nm)/57FeN(2 nm)/FeN(50 nm)] nm)/Fe15N(2 on amorphous quartz reactive magnetron sputtering. It found that is strongly associated thermal stability. Before reaching decomposition temperature, to be slower than Fe. Upon decomposition, both diffuse rapidly, stage, takes over Within thermally stable state, diffusion indicates Fe–N bonds are stronger Fe–Fe FeN. This behavior predicted theoretically has been evidenced work.