Abstract
In this paper, a Co60Fe20Y20 film was sputtered onto Si (100) substrates with thicknesses ranging from 10 to 50 nm under four conditions to investigate the structure, magnetic properties, and surface energy. Under four conditions, the crystal structure of the CoFeY films was found to be amorphous by an X-ray diffraction analyzer (XRD), suggesting that yttrium (Y) added into CoFe films and can be refined in grain size and insufficient annealing temperatures do not induce enough thermal driving force to support grain growth. The saturation magnetization (MS) and low-frequency alternate-current magnetic susceptibility (χac) increased with the increase of the thicknesses and annealing temperatures, indicating the thickness effect and Y can be refined grain size and improved ferromagnetic spin exchange coupling. The highest Ms and χac values of the Co60Fe20Y20 films were 883 emu/cm3 and 0.26 when the annealed temperature was 300 °C and the thickness was 50 nm. The optimal resonance frequency (fres) was 50 Hz with the maximum χac value, indicating it could be used at a low frequency range. Moreover, the surface energy increased with the increase of the thickness and annealing temperature. The maximum surface energy of the annealed 300 °C film was 30.02 mJ/mm2 at 50 nm. Based on the magnetic and surface energy results, the optimal thickness was 50 nm annealed at 300 °C, which has the highest Ms, χac, and a strong adhesion, which can be as a free or pinned layer that could be combined with the magnetic tunneling layer and applied in magnetic fields.
Highlights
A CoFe binary alloy is an important alloy with excellent soft magnetic properties
CoFeY with thickness of 10–50 nm was sputtered onto a Si(100) substrate at room temperature (RT) by magnetron direct current (DC) sputtering method of 50 W power and under the subsequent four conditions: (a) the deposited films were kept at RT, (b) annealed at a treatment temperature (TA ) at 100 ◦ C for 1 h, (c) annealed at 200 ◦ C for 1 h, and (d) annealed at 300 ◦ C for 1 h
Si(100) substrate signal is too strong to cause other peak signals to be invisible in the particular range of diffraction angles, the X-ray diffraction analyzer (XRD) patterns of the different samples detected in the range from 35 to 60 degrees
Summary
A CoFe binary alloy is an important alloy with excellent soft magnetic properties It has a unique combination of high saturation magnetization (MS ), a high Curie temperature (TC ), low magnetic crystal anisotropy, and good strength. It is suitable for applications requiring a high-throughput density. CoFe alloys have the disadvantage of serious magnetic degradation and anisotropy with the increase of temperature after annealing treatment It is difficult for these magnetic devices to be effectively used at high temperatures. Magnetic films play an important role in increasing the storage density of magnetic data In this region, the manufacturing of write heads requires high MS , low coercivity (HC ), and high anisotropy [5]
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
