Abstract
Giant magnetoresistance (GMR) at room temperature was found in granular thin films such as Co-Cu, Fe-Ag, Co-Ag, etc., which has stimulated intense research activity. It is still unclear whether the as-deposited Ag-rich (75%-90%) thin films are an alloy or are two separate phases. We have investigated the microstructure of granular Ag-Fe and Ag-Co thin films by atomic resolution transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and nanochemical analysis scanning transmission electron microscopy (STEM). Transition metal particles with a size of less than 1.5 nm in the as-deposited granular Ag-rich thin films were directly observed and were separated by the nanosize of Ag particles. The structure of the as-deposited thin films was metastable, and it changed by annealing. The GMR strongly depends on the nanostructure in the films, and their relationship will be discussed.
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