Appearance of ferromagnetism at room temperature in Mn-Si films prepared by alternate deposition

Ferromagnetic Mn-Si films with Curie temperature of 120 degrees C are obtained, although no Mn-Si compound ferromagnetic at room temperature is reported. Ferromagnetism at room temperature appears when the films are prepared by alternate deposition at a substrate temperature around 360 degrees C. The saturation magnetization is enhanced when polyimide is used as the substrate or placed on other substrate surfaces. The ferromagnetic regions are localized near the interfaces between Mn and Si layers, judging from cross-sectional transmission electron micrographs and the stacking period dependence of the saturation magnetization.<
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