Growth of Sn on Ni2MnGa(100)

Ferromagnetic shape memory alloys have drawn immense attention in recent years owing to their important functional properties. We have performed low energy electron diffraction (LEED) and x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) study of the growth of Sn on Ni2MnGa(100) single crystal surface at room temperature in ultra-high vacuum. We find that Sn growth is not ordered at room temperature. However, as we anneal the Sn layer to higher temperatures up to 773 K, it becomes ordered exhibiting sharp LEED pattern similar to the substrate indicating pseudomorphic growth. XPS shows absence of adsorbate-substrate intermixing as well as desorption of the adsorbate due to annealing.