The microstructure of amorphous Co?P and Ni?P investigated with TEM and SAXS

Characterization of Amorphous Ni-P Coatings by Small Angle X-Ray Scattering

“…SAS investigations of electrodeposited Ni-P alloys have been done previously. [5][6][7][8][9][10] All these studies agree regarding the presence of inhomogeneities in the amorphous Ni-P alloy. The interpretation of the neutron scattering experiments 7 suggested only compositional inhomogeneity, while the SAXS experiments imply both compositional and density fluctuations in the form of Ni-rich precipitates.…”

“…Both concern electrodeposited Ni-P. The first one is of Sonnberger et al 10 They found significant surface scattering in Ni 75 P 25 alloy and ascribed the same scattering intensity to samples with other composition. A later work of Lamparter and Steeb 5 showed no surface scattering for melt spun and electrodeposited samples of Ni 80 P 20 and Ni 81 P 19 .…”

Magnetic behavior of amorphous CoP cylinder arrays

“…% P shows an amorphous structure characterized by weak contrast. 23,24 Table I lists the samples examined in this study. Scanning electron micrographs ͑SEMs͒ and magnetic hysteresis loops for three of the samples are shown in Fig.…”

Microstructural Investigation of Co-P by TEM

“…Two direct observations of a presumed columnar structure have been reported in the literature. One was obtained on chemically thinned films 6 and the other on films of very small thickness ͑70 nm͒ obtained in quite different electrodeposition conditions, i.e., from a different type of solution, operating at lower temperature and low current density ͑20°C, 5-30 mA cm Ϫ2 ͒. 14 In view of the results here obtained, the interpretation of these observations may have to be reconsidered, as discussed below.…”

“…3 The anisotropy has often been attributed to a cellular or columnar microstructure of electrodeposited Co-P. Even though the original measurements on which this conclusion was based 4,5 were later refuted, 6 many discussions on the magnetic properties are still centered around an alleged columnar structure, especially when pulseplated layers are considered ͑e.g., Ref. 7 and 8͒.…”