The growth of Mn5Ge3 ultra-thin films with different thicknesses, prepared by solid-phase epitaxy, was studied. The results of scanning tunnelling microscopy and low-energy electron diffraction studies show that the film could be formed and it was terminated with a (√3 x √3)R30° surface reconstruction when the thickness of Mn exceeds 3 monolayers. The magnetic properties show that the Curie temperature was about 300K and the T2-dependent behaviour was observed to persist up to 220K.

Growth of Mn5Ge3 Ultrathin Film on Ge(111). L.J.Chen, D.Y.Wang, Q.F.Zhan, W.He, Q.A.Li, Z.H.Cheng: Chinese Physics B, 2008, 17[10], 3902-6