Alloy Thin Films Research Articles

Effect of phase composition on the corrosion behavior of Ti-xMo alloy films

The corrosion behavior of Ti-xMo alloy films was investigated by preparing a series of Ti-xMo (x = 0, 4, 11, 20 wt%) alloy films using non-equilibrium magnetron sputtering ion plating technology. XRD and TEM results show that these films have obvious phase composition, which are single α phase, α + β phase and single β phase, respectively. The composition of passivation film of alloy thin films is analyzed by XPS analysis method. The passivation film can be divided into inner passivation film and outer passivation film. The corrosion behavior of Ti-xMo alloy films in a 3.5 wt% NaCl solution was investigated through the electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS). The findings suggest that the corrosion resistance of Ti-xMo alloy films is not only influenced by the Mo content but also governed by the composition of phases. Due to the absence of α/β interfaces in its structure and higher Mo content, the Ti-20Mo alloy film with a single β phase exhibits superior corrosion resistance compared to Pure-Ti film with a single α phase and Ti-4Mo and Ti-11Mo alloy films with an α + β phase.

Experimental and DFT studies of structural and optoelectronic properties of CdS, Zn doped CdS, and (Zn-Ni) co-doping CdS nanomaterials

Abstract This paper presents experimental and theoretical studies of binary semiconductor CdS, Zn:CdS, and (Zn-Ni) co-doped CdS. Thin films of pure CdS, Cd35ZnS36, and Cd34ZnNiS36 alloys grown by sol-gel spin coating were analyzed using X-ray diffraction, EDX, and UV-vis spectroscopy. The experimental results show the success of growing nanomaterials in hexagonal structures with crystallite sizes ranging from 1.6 to 2.11 nm and possessing band gaps in the region 2.30 -2.49 eV. Additionally, we investigate the structural and optoelectronic properties of these materials in the ground state using the density functional theory implemented in the WIEN2k software. The first principles calculations confirmed that the structural and optical properties of CdS align with the experimental results. For nanostructure Cd35ZnS36, the lattice parameters decrease, and the band gap increases to 2.85 eV with Zn doping. The (Zn-Ni) co-doped CdS structure optimization shows that the ferromagnetic configuration is more stable than the non-magnetic structure. The spin-polarized band structure investigations reveal that the majority spin-up channel is about 2.79 eV while the minority spin-down channel is around 2.19 eV. These results increase the importance of Zn:CdS and CdZnNiS alloys for optoelectronic and spintronic applications. The calculated optical properties of CdS, Zn:CdS, and (Zn-Ni) co-doped CdS show slight changes in refractive index and extinction coefficient with the doping and a quantitative agreement with the experimental findings.

The Piezoresistive Performance of CuMnNi Alloy Thin-Film Pressure Sensors Prepared by Magnetron Sputtering

Effects of varying Mn and Ni concentrations on the structure and piezoresistive properties of CuMnNi films deposited by magnetron sputtering with a segmented target were investigated. An increase in the Ni content refines the CuNi film grains, inducing an increase in defects such as internal micropores and a decrease in film density. At the same time, the positive piezoresistive coefficient of the film changes to negative. When 17.5 at.% Ni was added, the negative piezoresistive coefficient of the CuNi film was −2.0 × 10−4 GPa−1. The doping of Ni has a weakening effect on the positive piezoresistive effect of the film. Adding Mn into Cu refines the film grains while increasing the film density. The surface roughness of the film decreases with the increase in Mn content. When the Mn content was 16.7 at.%, the piezoresistive coefficient reached the largest recorded value of 23.81 × 10−4 GPa−1, and the film exhibited excellent repeatability in multiple piezoresistive tests. After the CuMn film with 16.7 at.% Mn was annealed at 400 °C for 2 h, the film grains grew slightly and the film residual stress decreased. The optimization of the film structure can reduce the scattering of electrons during transportation. The piezoresistive coefficient of the film was further improved to 35.78 × 10−4 GPa−1.

Multiphysics coupled sensing mechanism of Pd/Ni alloy thin-film coated SAW hydrogen sensor

Multiphysics coupled sensing mechanism of palladium/nickel (Pd/Ni) alloy thin-film coated surface acoustic wave (SAW) hydrogen (H2) sensor is demonstrated theoretically and experimentally to allow the optimization of the sensing device in this work. The resistor-capacitance circuit model is used to describe the interaction between Pd/Ni film and H2. Referring to the perturbation theory, the relationship between the changes in SAW velocity/phase and the multi-physical field quantities of the Pd/Ni film are analyzed. To verify the theoretical model, the Pd/Ni film is sputtered on the Y35°X quartz substrate to build the delay-line patterned SAW H2 sensor. Experimental results have well verified the theoretical predictions. That is, the main response mechanism is the mass loading effect, and the contribution of the acoustoelectric effect can be neglected. The expansion effect induced by hydrogen adsorption is completely different from the mass loading effect, which causes the sensing response failure, but it can be effectively improved by increasing the working temperature or decreasing the thickness of the Pd/Ni thin-film. Wide detection range (100 ppm ∼ 38 v/v %), rapid response (t 90 ∼ 7 s), and good humidity stability are achieved from the optimized SAW H2 sensor.

Annealing temperature dependence of magnetic properties in FeCo ordered alloy thin films fabricated using the nitrogen surfactant effect

L10-FeCo has attracted attention as a new, rare-metal-free magnetic material due to its large uniaxial magnetic anisotropy. However, the low stability of the L10 phase hampers its practical application. We here intend to prepare FeCo alloy thin films by utilizing the nitrogen surfactant effect. The enhancement of the out-of-plane magnetization of this thin film was observed by stacking cobalt single atomic layer on bilayer iron nitride and subsequent annealing at 470 K. This study provides an insight into the relationship between structural changes and magnetic properties of the FeCo interface on the atomic scale, and paves the way for the development of rare metal-free magnetic materials.

Investigation on the crystal structure, magnetic, and electrical transport properties of magnetron sputtered Co2FeGe Heusler alloy films

Crystal structure, magnetic, and electrical resistivity behaviour of Co2FeGe Heusler alloy films deposited at different sputtering parameters have been studied using X-ray diffraction, VSM, and standard four-probe techniques. Though the expected structure was L21, X-ray diffraction studies indicate the A 2-type disordered structure. All films exhibited soft ferromagnetic characteristics having a coercive field of 5-65 Oe and a high ferromagnetic ordering temperature (More than 700 K). The electrical resistivity of the films deposited on the Si substrates was influenced by the substrate temperatures. Out of the different scattering mechanisms present in the low and high-temperature regimes, the two-magnon scattering effect is dominant in all the films. The scattering mechanisms are the same in all films irrespective of the substrate temperature. The optimum sputter deposition parameters that yields good quality Co2FeGe Heusler alloy thin films were found to be 50 W power, 5 mTorr pressure, and 400 °C substrate temperature.

Creation of Multi-Principal Element Alloy NiCoCr Nanostructures via Nanosecond Laser-Induced Dewetting.

The multi-principal element alloynanoparticles (MPEA NPs), a new class of nanomaterials, present a highly rewarding opportunity to explore new or vastly different functional properties than the traditional mono/bi/multimetallic nanostructures due to their unique characteristics of atomic-level homogeneous mixing of constituent elements in the nanoconfinements. Here, the successful creation of NiCoCr nanoparticles, a well-known MPEA system is reported, using ultrafast nanosecond laser-induced dewetting of alloy thin films. Nanoparticle formation occurs by spontaneously breaking the energetically unstable thin films in a melt state under laser-induced hydrodynamic instability and subsequently accumulating in a droplet shape via surface energy minimization. While NiCoCr alloy shows a stark contrast in physical properties compared to individual metallic constituents, i.e., Ni, Co, and Cr, yet the transient nature of the laser-driven process facilitates a homogeneous distribution of the constituents (Ni, Co, and Cr) in the nanoparticles. Using high-resolution chemical analysis and scanning nanodiffraction, the environmental stability and grain arrangement in the nanoparticles are further investigated. Thermal transport simulations reveal that the ultrashort (≈100ns) melt-state lifetime of NiCoCr during the dewetting event helps retain the constituent elements in a single-phase solid solution with homogenous distribution and opens the pathway to create the unique MPEA nanoparticles with laser-induced dewetting process.

Electrodeposition of Nanostructured Co–Cu Thin Alloy Films on to Steel Substrate from an Environmentally Friendly Novel Lactate Bath under Different Operating Conditions

A new lactate bath was proposed to deposit Co–Cu thin alloy films in nanostructure form onto a steel cathode. The deposition bath contained CuSO4.5H2O, CoSO4.7H2O, CH3CHOHCOOH, and anhydrous Na2SO4 at pH 10. The effects of [Co2+]/[Cu2+] molar ratios, lactate ion concentration, current density (CD), and bath temperature on cathodic polarization, cathodic current efficacy (CCE), composition, and structure of the Co–Cu alloys were investigated. The new bath had a high cathodic current efficiency of 85%, which increased with the applied CD. However, it decreased as the temperature increased. The produced coatings have an atomic percentage of Cu ranging from 19.8 to 99%. The deposition of the Co–Cu alloy belonged to regular codeposition. The Co content of the deposit increased with the amount of Co2+ ions in the bath, lactate concentration, and current density but decreased as the temperature increased. Cobalt hexagonal close-packed (HCP) and copper-rich, face-centered cubic (FCC) Co–Cu phases combine to form the polycrystalline structure of the electrodeposited Co–Cu alloy. The average crystallite size ranges between 46 and 89 nm. An energy dispersive X-ray (EDX) examination confirmed that the deposit contained Cu and Co metals. The throwing power and throwing index of the alkaline lactate bath were evaluated and found to be satisfactory.

Influence of deposition pressure on the microstructure and mechanical properties of sputter-deposited MoNbTaW refractory multi-principal element alloy thin films

A systematic investigation into the effects of deposition pressure on the microstructure and mechanical properties of MoNbTaW refractory multi-principal element alloy (RMPEA) films deposited on Silicon (100) substrates using direct current magnetron sputtering (DCMS) is presented. The deposition pressure was varied from 3 Pa to 0.3 Pa at a homologous temperature (T/Tm) ≤ 0.1. The crystal structure, surface morphology, cross-sectional microstructure and mechanical properties were studied using X-ray diffraction, scanning and transmission electron microscopy and nanoindentation. X-ray diffraction findings indicate a single-phase BCC structure throughout the pressure range. An evolution in surface morphology was observed, coupled with a transition from a void-rich to a densified microstructure as the deposition pressure decreased, in line with the structure zone model. Additionally, variations in crystallographic orientations were detected, with changes in I(110)/(211) suggesting an interplay between film growth dynamics and crystallographic orientation shifts with the deposition pressure. The mechanical properties have shown significant improvement, with hardness and modulus values increasing from 7GPa to 12 GPa and 135 GPa to 243 GPa, with a decrease in deposition pressure. The study provides insights into the deposition mechanism, highlighting that microstructural changes and variations in crystallographic orientations are influenced by deposition pressure-induced alterations in adatom energy and surface mobility, thus affecting the films' mechanical properties.

Preparation and soldering performance of SAC305@Sn-bi Core-shell solder balls based on eutectic co-deposition

SnBi eutectic thin film alloys are widely used in microelectronic devices, sensors, biomedical devices due to their high resistance, low temperature coefficient, chemical stability, and biocompatibility. However, the large standard electrode potential difference (454 mV) between Sn (−0.136 V) and Bi (+0.3118 V) makes them difficult to be co-deposited, especially with eutectic composition. In this study, cathodic polarization curves were used to analyze the negative shift of the cathodic reduction potentials of Sn and Bi induced by gelatin and EDTA-2Na, respectively, which reduced the potential difference between the two to 184 mv (Sn:-0.958 v; Bi:-0.774 v) and enabled the co-deposition of Sn and Bi; cathodic overpotentials were analysed to show that catechol not only improves the degree of cathodic polarization, but also raises the overpotentials, resulting in flatter surface coatings; By adjusting the temperature, current density, and pulse current, a SnBi eutectic thin film coating with good weldability, controllable thickness, flat surface, density, and uniformity was obtained on copper foil using a platinum as the anode in a methanesulfonic acid solution. The results indicate that it is feasible to deposit SnBi solder alloy at eutectic points (Sn41.53Bi58.47, At.%). Under the synergistic effect of gelatin and unidirectional square wave pulse, a typical eutectic network morphology can be obtained, which is the same as the microstructure of industrial SnBi eutectic solder. Based on these, a core-shell composite soldering material for low-temperature soldering was obtained by using SAC305 solder balls as cores and a SnBi low-temperature soldering material coating was roll-plated on their surfaces. This study provides a reliable technical way and theoretical guidance for low-temperature soldering, preparation of low-temperature solderable core-shell composite soldering material, and application of sensors and optoelectronic devices.

Oxygen ion irradiation-driven Al-vacancy mediated room-temperature magnetism induced in amorphous Al-N-O alloy thin films

In this work, the evolution of superparamagnetism (SPM) at room temperature is observed in the reactive magnetron sputter deposited amorphous Al-N-O alloy thin films after irradiation with oxygen ions (O−). Energy dispersive X-ray (EDX) analysis reveals the presence of notable Al-vacancy (VAl) in as-grown Al-N-O alloy thin film. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) confirms nitrogen trapping at VAl sites for thermodynamic stability, forming the Al(NOy)x phase. Upon the irradiation using O− at low fluence, i.e. 5 × 1013 ions/cm2, mainly VAl-ON complexes emerged. Here ON refers to nitrogen replaced by oxygen. Furthermore, an increase in oxygen fluence from 1 × 1015 to 2 × 1016 ions/cm2 yields the cross-over from VAl-ON complexes to mainly VAl, due to knocking off the trapped nitrogen atoms at VAl sites. From depth-resolved positron beam-based Doppler broadening measurements, the greater density of VAl sites is noticed in the film irradiated with the highest fluence of O− ion, i.e., 2 × 1016 ions/cm2. The correlation between the elevation of VAl sites with O− irradiation dose is in excellent agreement with the emergence of superparamagnetism (SPM) in the films. Hence, the emergence of SPM in the film after irradiation has been attributed to the creation of VAl sites, which leads to a localized magnetic moment.

Direct-Contact Seebeck-Driven Transverse Magneto-Thermoelectric Generation in Magnetic/Thermoelectric Bilayers.

Transverse thermoelectric generation converts temperature gradient in one direction into an electric field perpendicular to that direction and is expected to be a promising alternative in creating simple-structured thermoelectric modules that can avoid the challenging problems facing traditional Seebeck-effect-based modules. Recently, large transverse thermopower has been observed in closed circuits consisting of magnetic and thermoelectric materials, called the Seebeck-driven transverse magneto-thermoelectric generation (STTG). However, the closed-circuit structure complicates its broad applications. Here, STTG is realized in the simplest way to combine magnetic and thermoelectric materials, namely, by stacking a magnetic layer and a thermoelectric layer together to form a bilayer. The transverse thermopower is predicted to vary with changing layer thicknesses and peaks at a much larger value under an optimal thickness ratio. This behavior is verified in the experiment, through a series of samples prepared by depositing Fe-Ga alloy thin films of various thicknesses onto n-type Si substrates. The measured transverse thermopower reaches 15.2 ± 0.4µVK-1, which is a fivefold increase from that of Fe-Ga alloy and much larger than the current room temperature record observed in Weyl semimetal Co2MnGa. The findings highlight the potential of combining magnetic and thermoelectric materials for transverse thermoelectric applications.

Magnesium-calcium thin films at low calcium concentrations for anode materials in biodegradable implantable primary batteries

A Mg–Ca thin film combinatorial library was produced by thermal co-evaporation targeting a compositional spread of Ca from 0.2 to 3 at.%. Microstructure characterizations proved all alloys to have single-phase microstructures, displaying a gradual refinement with increasing Ca concentration. Electrochemical characterizations conducted using scanning droplet cell microscopy (SDCM), showed that the incorporation of Ca resulted in an improvement of the corrosion resistance of Mg thin films. The Mg-1.2 at.% Ca thin film alloy screened from the library showed an optimal initial cell potential and total discharge time.

Terahertz characterization of nano-scale high-entropy alloy films and their high-contrast grating applications

We investigated the optical constants of thin films of the Nb25Mo25Ta25W25 alloy, which belongs to high-entropy alloys (HEAs), with a transmission terahertz (THz) measurement system and discovered that the refractive index, extinction coefficient, and conductivity of the HEA thin film measured in the range of 0.3–1.0 THz all increased as the thickness of the thin film increased (the thickness was maintained in the range between 10 and 40 nm). According to the experimental results, this alloy with a high refractive index is suitable for producing high-contrast gratings (HCGs). The principle behind achieving a high contrast with a high-reflection HEA grating is to harness the confined plasmonic energy within the grating, thereby enhancing the localized plasmonic energy within the grating. This work elucidates that we can not only fabricate THz components by controlling the thickness of the thin film but also utilize the high refractive index of this material to create HCGs.

Structural Parameters and Behavior in Simulated Body Fluid of High Entropy Alloy Thin Films.

The structure, composition and corrosion properties of thin films synthesized using the Pulsed Laser Deposition (PLD) technique starting from a three high entropy alloy (HEA) AlCoCrFeNix produced by vacuum arc remelting (VAR) method were investigated. The depositions were performed at room temperature on Si and mirror-like polished Ti substrates either under residual vacuum (low 10-7 mbar, films denoted HEA2, HEA6, and HEA10, which were grown from targets with Ni concentration molar ratio, x, equal to 0.4, 1.2, and 2.0, respectively) or under N2 (10-4 mbar, films denoted HEN2, HEN6, and HEN10 for the same Ni concentration molar ratios). The deposited films' structures, investigated using Grazing Incidence X-ray Diffraction, showed the presence of face-centered cubic and body-centered cubic phases, while their surface morphology, investigated using scanning electron microscopy, exhibited a smooth surface with micrometer size droplets. The mass density and thickness were obtained from simulations of acquired X-ray reflectivity curves. The films' elemental composition, estimated using the energy dispersion X-ray spectroscopy, was quite close to that of the targets used. X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy investigation showed that films deposited under a N2 atmosphere contained several percentages of N atoms in metallic nitride compounds. The electrochemical behavior of films under simulated body fluid (SBF) conditions was investigated by Open Circuit Potential (OCP) and Electrochemical Impedance Spectroscopy measurements. The measured OCP values increased over time, implying that a passive layer was formed on the surface of the films. It was observed that all films started to passivate in SBF solution, with the HEN6 film exhibiting the highest increase. The highest repassivation potential was exhibited by the same film, implying that it had the highest stability range of all analyzed films. Impedance measurements indicated high corrosion resistance values for HEA2, HEA6, and HEN6 samples. Much lower resistances were found for HEN10 and HEN2. Overall, HEN6 films exhibited the best corrosion behavior among the investigated films. It was noticed that for 24 h of immersion in SBF solution, this film was also a physical barrier to the corrosion process, not only a chemical one.

Inhibited Surface Diffusion in Nanoporous Multi-Principal Element Alloy Thin Films Prepared by Vacuum Thermal Dealloying

Nanoporous structures with 3D interconnected networks are traditionally made by dealloying a binary precursor. Certain approaches for fabricating these materials have been applied to refractory multi-principal element alloys (RMPEAs), which can be suitable candidates for high-temperature applications. In this study, nanoporous refractory multi-principal element alloys (np-RMPEAs) were fabricated from magnesium-based thin films (VMoNbTaMg) that had been prepared by magnetron sputtering. Vacuum thermal dealloying (VTD), which involves sublimation of a higher vapor pressure element, is a novel technique for synthesizing nanoporous refractory elements that are prone to oxidation. When VMoNbTaMg was heated under vacuum, a nanoporous structure was created by the sublimation of the highest vapor pressure element (Mg). X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy depth profiling indicated significantly less ligament oxidation during VTD as compared to traditional dealloying methods. Furthermore, np-RMPEAs exhibited outstanding stability against coarsening, retaining smaller ligaments (~25 nm) at elevated temperature (700 °C) for a prolonged period (48 h).

The new Iridium-Hafnium-Aluminum alloy thin films with excellent mechanical properties and oxidation resistance

Improving oxidation resistance has long been a challenge for hot end components in high temperature environments. We have fabricated a series of IraHfbAlc (at. %) alloy thin films by multi-targeted direct current magnetron sputtering (DC-MS) and have thoroughly investigated the microscopic mechanism of the films. More importantly, we for the first time prepared IraHfbAlc alloy thin films with a preferred (111) orientation substitution solid solution, which exhibits excellent mechanical properties and oxidation resistance. The minimum surface roughness (Ra) value of the IraHfbAlc alloy films was 0.7 nm, while the maximum hardness (H) and elastic modulus (E) exceeded 20 GPa and 330 GPa, respectively. The oxidized volatility of the Ir in the films was only 0.11 μm/h at 1300 °C (lower than most previously reported values, such as 0.5 μm/h), which greatly improved the lifetime of the film. Confirmation that lattice distortion induces the refinement of crystal-like order (CLO) in thin films, and solves the mystery of enhanced oxidation resistance. The findings provide important insights into the design of Ir-containing alloy coatings and offer new ideas in the field of high-temperature protection.

High-throughput synthesis and oxidation behavior of a continuous composition spread (Nb–Ti)1-x-ySixCry alloy thin film

High-throughput method of three targets magnetron sputter co-deposition was adopted to prepare (Nb–Ti)1-x-ySixCry composition spread alloy film (CSAF). Early oxidation behavior of the as-deposited alloy thin film was investigated in atmospheric conditions at 1250 °C for 10 min. A (Nb–Ti)1-x-ySixCry combinatorial material library covering (9.34–32.31) Si-(10.43–20.27) Cr (at. %) is obtained and as-deposited film was composed of amorphous phase. The oxidized film was separated into three regions having different oxidation products. The composition range for establishment of a protective scale (SiO2 and CrNbO4) and a small amount of Nb2O5 was ascertained efficiently across the entire alloy thin film.

Magnesium-lithium thin films for neurological applications–An in vitro investigation of glial cytocompatibility and neuroinflammatory response

Lithium (Li), a widely used drug for bipolar disorder management, is associated with many side effects due to systemic exposure. The localized delivery of lithium through implants could be an approach to overcome this challenge, for which biodegradable magnesium (Mg)-based materials are a promising choice. In this study, we focus on Mg-Li thin film alloys as potential Li-releasing implants. Therefore, we investigated the in vitro short-term corrosion behavior and cytocompatibility of two alloys, Mg-1.6wt%Li and Mg-9.5wt%Li. As glial cells are the key players of foreign body responses to implants, we used human glial cell lines for cytocompatibility studies, and a murine brain slice model for a more holistic view at the neuroinflammatory response. We found that Mg-1.6wt%Li corrodes approximately six times slower than Mg-9.5wt%Li. Microscopic analysis showed that the material surface (Mg-1.6wt%Li) is suitable for cell adhesion. The cytocompatibility test with Mg-1.6wt%Li and Mg-9.5wt%Li alloy extracts revealed that both cell types proliferated well up to 10 mM Mg concentration, irrespective of the Li concentration. In the murine brain slice model, Mg-1.6wt%Li and Mg-9.5wt%Li alloy extracts did not provoke a significant upregulation of glial inflammatory/ reactivity markers (IL-1β, IL-6, FN1, TNC) after 24 h of exposure. Furthermore, the gene expression of IL-1β (up to 3-fold) and IL-6 (up to 16-fold) were significantly downregulated after 96 h, and IL-6 downregulation showed a Li concentration dependency. Together, these results indicate the acute cytocompatibility of two Mg-Li thin film alloys and provide basis for future studies to explore promising applications of the material. Statement of significanceWe propose the idea of lithium delivery to the brain via biodegradable implants to reduce systemic side effects of lithium for bipolar disorder therapy and other neurological applications. This is the first in vitro study investigating Mg-xLi thin film degradation under physiological conditions and its influence on cellular responses such as proliferation, viability, morphology and inflammation. Utilizing human brain-derived cell lines, we showed that the material surface of such a thin film alloy is suitable for normal cell attachment. Using murine brain slices, which comprise a multicellular network, we demonstrated that the material extracts did not elicit a pro-inflammatory response. These results substantiate that degradable Mg-Li materials are biocompatible and support the further investigation of their potential as neurological implants.

Effect of Ta buffer layer on the structural and magnetic properties of stoichiometric intermetallic FeAl alloy

The magnetostructural phase transition in Fe50Al50 alloy with chemically ordered paramagnetic B2 and disordered ferromagnetic (FM) A2 phase has applications in spintronics such as phase-change magnetic memory and magnonic devices. We first conducted a systematic first-principles density functional theory study of the A2 and B2 phases in the Fe50Al50 alloy. A theoretical understanding of this equiatomic alloy’s electronic and spin-dynamical properties leads us to the experimental exploration of the FM A2 phase. Therefore, we deposit the 50 nm Fe50Al50 alloy thin film using sputtering and investigate the influence of the Ta buffer layer on its structural and magnetic properties. Our results reveal that the film with a buffer layer exhibits the A2 phase with appreciably higher saturation magnetization (848 emu/cc) than the film without a buffer layer (576 emu/cc). However, the surface roughness and Gilbert damping (α) slightly increase with the presence of the buffer layer from 0.41 to 0.56 nm and 4.35 × 10−3–4.94 × 10−3, respectively. The enhancement in α is due to extrinsic contributions induced by surface inhomogeneities.