Title :
Effect of annealing on nanostructured Fe networks
Author :
Weston, James L. ; Butera, Alejandro ; Inturi, Venkat R. ; Jarratt, James D. ; Klemmer, Tim J. ; Barnard, John A.
Author_Institution :
Dept. of Metall. & Mater. Eng., Alabama Univ., Tuscaloosa, AL, USA
fDate :
9/1/1997 12:00:00 AM
Abstract :
Contiguous nanostructured Fe network structures sputter deposited on a porous template (nanochannel alumina) have been shown to have a high coercivity due to shape anisotropy. When these networks are vacuum annealed, even at modest temperatures, there is a significant improvement in their in-plane coercivities. The shape of the annealed coercivity vs. thickness plot is a function of the substrate geometry. The maximum coercivity obtained through annealing is ~1390 Oe and appears to be an absolute maximum. The topology of these networks when viewed by a scanning electron microscope undergoes morphological changes perpendicular to the plane of the network upon annealing. The annealed structures have the appearance of a modified “chain of spheres”, or a mesh of spheres
Keywords :
annealing; ferromagnetic materials; iron; magnetic anisotropy; magnetic hysteresis; magnetic thin films; nanostructured materials; porous materials; scanning electron microscopy; sputtered coatings; superparamagnetism; Al2O3; Fe; annealed coercivity; annealing; chain of spheres; contiguous nanostructured Fe network structures; high coercivity; high density recording; hysteresis loops; in-plane coercivities; mesh of spheres; morphological changes; nanochannel alumina; nanostructured Fe networks; network topology; porous template; scanning electron microscope; shape anisotropy; sputter deposition; substrate geometry; superparamagnetic size effect; thickness plot; vacuum annealed; Anisotropic magnetoresistance; Annealing; Coercive force; Electrons; Geometry; Iron; Nanostructures; Network topology; Shape; Temperature;
Journal_Title :
Magnetics, IEEE Transactions on
