ZnO thin layer/Fe-based ribbon/ZnO thin layer sandwich structure: Introduction of a new GMI optimization method

Abstract

Giant magneto-impedance (GMI) investigations comprising ZnO thin layers have received considerable attention for sensitive sensor applications. Herein, a ZnO thin layer with different thicknesses (92–503 nm) was deposited on surface of Fe-based amorphous ribbon (FeCoSiB) using RF magnetron sputtering. The GMI response and magnetic field sensitivity were investigated. While GMI% increased continuously up to the thickness of 223 nm, further increasing the ZnO thin layer thickness decreased GMI response. The GMI response and magnetic field sensitivity increased from 156% and 1.21%/Oe to 237% and 2.91%/Oe for bare Fe-based ribbon and ZnO thin layer/Fe-based ribbon/ZnO thin layer sandwich structure (223 nm in thickness), respectively. X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and atomic force microscopy (AFM) were used to characterize ZnO-enhanced structural parameters. A vibrating sample magnetometer (VSM) was used to indicate the role of the ZnO thin layer in the GMI response. Similar increasing and decreasing trends of GMI% as a function of thickness were observed in transverse permeability of samples as determined by VSM. Our results provide a simple approach to achieve high GMI response and magnetic field sensitivity by using a dielectric sandwich structure.