Hostname: page-component-8448b6f56d-c47g7 Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-04-19T17:15:21.365Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

Magnetic Anisotropy in Electrodeposited CO Films and spin-valves on Gaas Substrates

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  10 February 2011

K. Attenborough
Affiliation:
Dept MTM, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, de Croylaan 2, B-3001 Leuven, BELGIUM.
M. Cerisier
Affiliation:
Dept MTM, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, de Croylaan 2, B-3001 Leuven, BELGIUM.
H. Boeve
Affiliation:
IMEC v.z.w., Kapeldreef 75, B-3001 Leuven. BELGIUM
J. De Boeck
Affiliation:
IMEC v.z.w., Kapeldreef 75, B-3001 Leuven. BELGIUM
G. Borghs
Affiliation:
IMEC v.z.w., Kapeldreef 75, B-3001 Leuven. BELGIUM
J.-P. Celis
Affiliation:
Dept MTM, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, de Croylaan 2, B-3001 Leuven, BELGIUM.
Get access

Abstract

We have studied the magnetic and structural properties of thin electrodeposited Co and Cu layers grown directly onto (100) n-GaAs and have investigated the influence of a buffer layer. A dominant fourfold anisotropy with a uniaxial contribution is observed in 10 nm Co electrodeposited films on GaAs. An easy axis is observed in the [001] GaAs direction with two hard axes of differing coercivities parallel to the [011] and [011] directions. For thicker films the easy axes in the [001] direction becomes less pronounced and the fourfold anisotropy becomes less dominant. Co films of similar thicknesses deposited onto an electrodeposited Cu buffer layer were nearly isotropic. From X-ray diffraction 21 nm Co layers on GaAs were found to be hcp with the c-axis tending to be in the plane of the film. The anisotropy is ascribed to the Co/GaAs interface and is held responsible for the unique spin-valve properties seen recently in electrodeposited Co/Cu films.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © Materials Research Society 1999

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

REFERENCES

2. Attenborough, K., Boeve, H., De Boeck, J., Borghs, G. and Celis, J.-P., Sensors and Actuators A, 1999, in press.Google Scholar
1. Attenborough, K., Boeve, H., De Boeck, J., Borghs, G. and Celis, J.-P., Appl. Phys. Lett. 74, 12 April (1999).Google Scholar
4. Attenborough, K., De Boeck, J., Celis, J.-P., Mizuguchi, M. and Akinaga, H., “Enhanced magnetic properties in electrodeposited nickel films”, IEEE Trans Magn, To be published, September 1999Google Scholar
3. Hart, R., Alper, M., Attenborough, K. and Schwarzacher, W., Proc. of 3 rd Int. Symp. on Magnetic Materials, Processes and Devices, Electrochem. Soc. Proc. 94–6, 215 (1994).Google Scholar
5. Prinz, G.A., Phy. Rev. Lett. 54, 1051 (1985); Y. U. Idzerda, W. T. Elam, B. T. Jonker and G.A. Prinz, ibid.Google Scholar
6. Jordan, S. M., Lewler, J. F., Schad, R. and van Kempen, H., J. Appl. Phys., 84, 1499 (1998).Google Scholar
7. Hope, S., Gu, E., Tselepi, M. and Bland, J. A. C. in Magnetic Ultrathin Films, Multilayers and Surfaces, edited by Tobin, J. et al. (Mater. Res. Soc. Proc. 475, Pittsburgh, PA, 1997) pp. 143148.Google Scholar
8. Recent NMR measurements of these Co films have brought to light that the films consist of a mixed fcc and hcp phase. The bcc phase was not observed. This result will be reported in more detail elsewhere.Google Scholar