The nanostructure and magnetic properties of electrodeposited Co 40 Fe 60 alloy films containing varying amounts of oxygen were investigated using transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and diffraction, secondary ion mass spectroscopy (SIMS), and superconducting quantum interference device (SQUID) measurements. Oxygen content in the CoFe deposit was controlled by electrolyte composition. Films were deposited on Si {100} substrates with thin Cu/Ti seed layer. Electron energy loss and x-ray spectroscopies showed that the low oxygen films contained intragranular FeO particles and that the high oxygen films contained Fe 2 O 3 along grain boundaries. The films with oxide present at the grain boundary had increased coercivity and reduced saturation magnetization relative to the lower oxygen content films with intragranular oxide. The differences in magnetic properties between low oxygen and high oxygen concentration films were attributed to stronger mobile domain wall interactions with the grain boundary oxide layers relative to interactions with the intragranular oxide particles in the low oxygen specimens.
Co36-40Fe64-60 films were electrodeposited on Cu/Si substrates from electrolytes containing variable amounts of Fe3+, to control the film’s oxygen content. The films were body centered cubic with grain sizes of 10 to 20 nm. Analytical electron microscopy was used to determine oxygen distributions and bonding states in the films. Intergranular trivalent Fe2O3 was distributed along grain boundaries in the films with highest oxygen content. A lower volume fraction of intragranular FeO particles were observed in low oxygen content films. Intergranular Fe3+ oxide increased the coercivity and magnetoresistance and reduced the mass saturation magnetization relative to the low oxygen content films.
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