Sputter deposition of compositional gradient magnetostrictive FeCo based thin films

Abstract

A thin film of Fe x Co (1− x) has been produced with a linear compositional gradient ranging from x=0.67 to x=0.40 via an RF sputtering technique. The film was deposited onto a glass slide from a target consisting of two semi-circles of pure Fe and Co. We show that such a compositional gradient combined with local magnetic probes allows easy and quick characterisation of the magnetic properties as a function of composition. The composition dependence of the coercivity, anisotropy and magnetostriction of Fe x Co (1− x) have been established using this method.