Structural and magnetic properties of granular Cr100 − xFex

Granular films of Cr-Re have been prepared by d.c. magnetron sputtering over the Cr content range 10–90 at.%, on both heated and water-cooled substrates. Transmission electron microscopy studies, used for the microstructural characterization of the samples, show a composition-dependent grain size, in the range 10–150 Å. X-ray studies showed that the CR-rich and Fe-rich samples are b.c.c. Those with intermediate composition showed extra diffraction lines which may be indexed with the Cr s.c. structure. Magnetic properties, such as coecivity HC and giant magnetoresistance, were also found to be strongly composition dependent, with maximum values of 320 Oe and 7.5% respectively, measured at 35 K.