Effect of capping layer on coercivity of permalloy thin films with interconnected network

Abstract

Permalloy (Py)/capping (FeMn, Ta) bilayers with interconnected network structure were deposited onto porous alumina templates with 5.0 nm thick Ta buffer layers. For the nanostructured Py/FeMn and Py/Ta bilayers the coercivity goes through a maximum value near the Py layer thickness of 17.5 nm. Despite exchange biasing, however, the coercivity of the former bilayers is smaller than that of the latter ones with the same Py layer thickness. The Ta capping layer thickness and the deposition rate of the Py layer are also found to have great influences on the coercivity of the Py layer. (© 2004 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)