A controlled-atmosphere electron-microscopy study of the influence of oxygen on the interdiffusion of gold and iron

Abstract

Controlled-atmosphere electron microscopy is used to show that when thin (∼150 Å) superimposed layers of Au/Fe/Au are heated in an oxygen environment, a dramatic breakup of the gold into islets occurs at 300-350°C. By utilizing previous Rutherford backscattering observations of this system and complementing the electron-microscope observations with x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy examination, it is possible to gain an insight into the nature of the process and highlight the role played by oxygen in the breakup of the gold layer.