Effects of Magnetic Annealing on Structure and Magnetic Properties of L10-FePt/Ag Films.

The structural and magnetic properties of L1-FePt/Ag films were studied by X-ray diffraction and a vibrating sample magnetometer. The FeAg/Pt films were obtained by depositing FeAg thin films on thermally oxidized Si (001) substrates via magnetron sputtering and Pt layers on their surface after annealing FeAg thin films at 400 °C with and without an out-of-plane magnetic field of 10 kOe. These films were further annealed at various temperatures to obtain L1-FePt phase. The results indicated that the pre-annealing of FeAg thin films under 10 kOe magnetic field caused (001) orientation of Fe particles, and the deposition of Pt layer on such orientated underlayers reduced the ordering temperature of FePt in FeAg/Pt films, realizing the L1-FePt phase at 400 °C. The higher coercivity and ordering degree were also observed in the samples, compared with those pre-annealed without magnetic field at the same annealing condition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]