Effect of Heat‐Treatment on the Magnetic and Structural Properties of Perpendicular Magnetic Anisotropy CoNiReP Films Produced by Electroless Deposition

Abstract

The effect of heat‐treatment on the magnetic and structural properties of electroless‐plated films with various compositions were studied to determine their microstructure in the as‐deposited conditions, as well as to estimate their thermal stability. Due to the difference in compositions, magnetic properties of the films were found to behave differently with heat‐treatment. The films with high crystallinity showed larger changes in magnetic properties. The film with the largest perpendicular magnetic anisotropy kept its positive anisotropy energy with treatment up to 500°C. The <002>‐oriented hcp structure of this film was also maintained with treatment up to 500°C. However, heat‐treatment at 600°C altered the crystal structure of the films from the <002> oriented hexagonal close‐packed structure to face‐centered cubic without preferred crystal orientation, causing a sharp change in the magnetic properties of the films. Since the formation of compound and fcc regions was detected in the film with treatment higher than 500°C, it was assumed that in the as‐deposited films the <002>‐oriented hcp crystallites with high crystallinity segregate in the amorphous phase.