The magnetic and microstructural properties of sputter-deposited and annealed CoCrPtNb thin films

Abstract

Quaternary (CoCrPt)100xNbx/Cr bilayer thin films have been sputter-deposited and their magnetic and microstructural properties determined as a function of niobium content and thermal annealing. Coercivity, magnetisation, crystallography and magnetic interactions are shown to be dependent on composition and annealing conditions. Large coercivity increases and reduced magnetisations and intergranular interactions are obtained in annealed crystalline samples. As-deposited amorphous samples and those crystallised during annealing exhibit low coercivity. The observed properties are explained in terms of composition and crystallographic orientation on deposition and by a redistribution, diffusion and oxidation of elements on annealing.