Perpendicular magnetic anisotropy and spin glass-like behavior in molecular beam epitaxy grown chromium telluride thin films

Abstract

Reflection high energy electron diffraction (RHEED), scanning tunneling microscopy (STM), vibrating sample magnetometry and other physical property measurements are used to investigate the structure, morphology, magnetic and magneto-transport properties of (001)-oriented Cr$_2$Te$_3$ thin films grown on Al$_2$O$_3$(0001) and Si(111)-(7$\times$7) surfaces by molecular beam epitaxy (MBE). Streaky RHEED patterns indicate flat smooth film growth on both substrates. STM studies show the hexagonal arrangements of surface atoms. Determination of the lattice parameter from atomically resolved STM image is consistent with the bulk crystal structures. Magnetic measurements show the film is ferromagnetic having the Curie temperature of about 180 K, and a spin glass-like behavior was observed below 35 K. Magneto-transport measurements show the metallic nature of the film with a perpendicular magnetic anisotropy along the $c$-axis.