Effect of Cr underlayer on microstructure and magnetic properties of Sm/sub 2/Co/sub 17/ thin films

Author

Chen, Shi-Kun ; Wu, G.Y. ; Tsai, Jai-Lin ; Chin, Tsung-Shune

Author_Institution

Dept. of Mater. Sci. & Eng., Feng Chia Univ., Taichung, Taiwan

Volume

37

Issue

4

fYear

2001

fDate

7/1/2001 12:00:00 AM

Firstpage

2593

Lastpage

2595

Abstract

Sm₂Co₁₇ thin films were deposited on a Cr underlayer by dc magnetron sputtering. Sm₂Co₁₇(300) in-plane texture was observed as the thickness of the Cr underlayer was in the range of 100–300 nm. The exchange coupling effect of the Sm₂Co₁₇ films was investigated from ΔM plots. The Cr underlayer was found to play an important role in decreasing the intergranular interactions in the Sm₂Co₁₇ films because of the formation of granular structure. TEM micrographs indicate that the magnetic decoupling can be due to isolated Sm₂Co₁₇ magnetic clusters which is induced by a Cr(110) textured underlayer.

Keywords

chromium; cobalt alloys; exchange interactions (electron); ferromagnetic materials; magnetic thin films; samarium alloys; sputtered coatings; transmission electron microscopy; Cr; Cr underlayer; DC magnetron sputtering; Sm/sub 2/Co/sub 17/; Sm/sub 2/Co/sub 17/ thin film; TEM; exchange coupling; granular structure; in-plane texture; intergranular interaction; magnetic clusters; magnetic decoupling; magnetic properties; microstructure; Amorphous magnetic materials; Chromium; Magnetic field measurement; Magnetic films; Magnetic hysteresis; Magnetic properties; Microstructure; Remanence; Samarium; Sputtering;

fLanguage

English

Journal_Title

Magnetics, IEEE Transactions on

Publisher

ieee

ISSN

0018-9464

Type

jour

DOI

10.1109/20.951245

Filename

951245