Search

5$\mu$m thick SmCo films were deposited onto Si substrates using triode sputtering. A study of the influence of deposition temperature (Tdep <= 600 degrees C) on the structural, magnetic and mechanical properties has shown that optimum properties (highest degree of in-plane texture, maximum in-plane coercivity and remanence (1.3 and 0.8 T, respectively), no film peel-off) are achieved for films deposited at the relatively low temperature of 350 degrees C. This temperature is compatible with film integration into Micro-Electro-Mechanical-Systems (MEMS). The deposition rate was increased from 3.6 to 18 $\mu$m/h by increasing the surface area of the target from 7 to 81 cm2. Mechanically stable films could be prepared by deposition onto pre-patterned films or deposition through holes in a mask.

Ta (100 nm) / NdFeB (5 $\mu$m) / Ta (100 nm) films have been deposited onto Si substrates using triode sputtering (deposition rate ~ 18 $\mu$m/h). A 2-step procedure was used : deposition at temperatures up to 400 C followed by ex-situ annealing at higher temperatures. Post-deposition annealing temperatures above 650 C are needed to develop high values of coercivity. The duration of the annealing time is more critical in anisotropic samples deposited onto heated substrates than in isotropic samples deposited at lower temperatures. For a given set of annealing conditions (750 C/ 10'), high heating rates (≥ 2000 C / h) favour high coercivity in both isotropic and anisotropic films. The shape and size of Nd2Fe14B grains depend strongly on the heating rate.

5$\mu$m thick NdFeB films have been sputtered onto 100 mm Si substrates using high rate sputtering (18 $\mu$m/h). Films were deposited at ≤ 500 C and then annealed at 750 C for 10 minutes. While films deposited at temperatures up to 450 C have equiaxed grains, the size of which decreases with increasing deposition temperature, the films deposited at 500 C have columnar grains. The out-of-plane remanent magnetization increases with deposition temperature, reaching a maximum value of 1.4 T, while the coercivity remains constant at about 1.6 T. The maximum energy product achieved (400 kJ/m3) is comparable to that of high-quality NdFeB sintered magnets.