Synthesis and magnetic properties of the composite films Zn3As2 - MnAs

Purpose - Obtaining the thin ferromagnetic films, which possess high Curie temperatures, for creating the devices of spintronics. Zn3As2 - MnAs composite films on silicon and leucosapphire substrates was obtained by the method of vacuum thermal evaporation. The films consisted from the particles with the size of 2-3 nm of the preliminarily synthesized composite, obtained by the direct alloying of diarsenide zinc with manganese, were used as the precursor. The films were 0.7-0.9 µm thick and had a globular structure. Size of globules was 5-150 nm. The distribution of the elements Zn, As and Mn was uniform. Globules consisted of magnetic clusters, the size of which has been established by the methods of the AFM, MFM, and small-angle X-ray scattering. The Zn3As2-MnAs films were ferromagnetic with Tc ~ 320 ° K.