Underlayer effect on structural and magnetic properties of Co90Fe10 thin films

Anotacija

In the present study, the single layer Co90Fe10 and X/Co90Fe10 (X = Cu, Cr, Au, Ni80Fe20) double layer films were investigated. Films were fabricated by DC magnetron sputtering at room temperature on Si substrates. In order to improve the soft magnetic properties of CoFe films, four different underlayers were examined. The coercivity values of the films were obtained by using a laboratory design magneto-optic Kerr effect (MOKE) magnetometry. Magnetic force microscopy and x-ray diffraction results show that the crystalline structure and magnetic domains of CoFe films are sensitive to the initial layer. It was seen that the soft magnetic properties of CoFe films were improved with underlayers. Particularly, the Au underlayer was effective in reducing coercivity Hc from 37 to 5 Oe.