Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

The effect of substrate temperature on the microstructure and tunnelling magnetoresistance of FeCo–Al2O3 nanogranular films

  • Published:
Journal of Materials Science Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

A series of FeCo–Al2O3 granular films were prepared with a magnetron controlled sputtering system. The magnetic–transport properties and microstructure of films sputtered at various substrate temperatures were characterized by conventional four probes method, SQUID magnetometer, analytical electron microscope and transmission electron microscope, respectively. The results indicate that the tunnelling magnetoresistance reaches the peak value of about 6.9% for FeCo (41 vol.%)-Al2O3 granular films sputtered at 300 K, while for FeCo granular films sputtered at 473 K, the 6% peak value in tunnelling magnetoresistance vs. volume fraction curve displaces toward the lower FeCo content of about 35 vol.%. Meanwhile, FeCo (30vol.%)-Al2O3 granular films sputtered both at room temperature and at 473 K behave as superparamagnetic and the susceptibility of this film increases with increasing substrate temperature. Based on the feature of microstructure of FeCo (41vol.%)-Al2O3 granular films sputtered at both room temperature and 823 K, the evolution sequence of two-stage phase separation is suggested. In addition, the effect of the microstructure on tunnelling magnetoresistance has been discussed.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. A. E. BERKOWITZ, J. R. MITEKELL and M. J. COREY, et al., Phys. Rev. Lett. 68 (1992) 3745.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  2. J. Q. XIAO, J. S. JIANG and C. L. CHIEN, ibid. 68 (1992) 3749.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  3. N. PELEG, S. SHTRIKMAN and G. GORODETSKY, et al., J. Magnet. Mag. Mater. 191 (1999) 349.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  4. YAN JU, CHEN X U. and ZHEN-YA LI, J. Magnet. Mag. Mater. 233 (2001) 267.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  5. A. MILNER, I. YA KORENBLIT and A. GERBER, Phys. Rev. B 60 (1999) 14821.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  6. G. J. STRIJKERS, H. J. M. SWAGTEN and B. RULKENS et al., J. Appl. Phys. 84 (1998) 2749.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  7. J. C. SLONCZEWSKI, Phys. Rev. B 39 (1989) 6995.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  8. S. MAEKAWA and U. GäFVERT, IEEE Trans. Mag. 18 (1982) 707.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  9. A. MILNER, A. GERBER and B. GROISMAN, et al., Phys. Rev. Let. 76 (1996) 475.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  10. J. I. GITTLEMAN, Y. GOLDSTEIN and S. BOZOWSKI, Phys. Rew. B 5 (1972) 3609.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  11. J. S. HELMAN and B. ABELES, Phys. Rew. Lett. 37 (1976) 1429.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  12. M. OHNUMA, K. HONO and E. ABE, et al., J. Appl. Phys. 82 (1997) 5646.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  13. C. L. CHIEN, J. Appl. Phys. 69 (1991) 5267.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  14. W. YANG, Z. S. JIANG and Y. W.DU, et al., Solid State Communi. 104 (1997) 479.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  15. J. S. HELMAN and B. ABELES. Phys. Rev. Let. 37 (1976) 1429.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  16. A. HÜTTEN, J. BERNARDI and C. NELSON, et al., Phys. Status. Solidi (a) 150 (1995) 171.

    Google Scholar 

  17. S. ZHANG and P. M. LEVY, J. Appl. Phys. 73 (1993) 5315.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  18. C. L. CHIEN, J. Q. XIAO and J. S. JIANG, J. Appl. Phys. 73 (1993) 5309.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  19. J. F. GREGG, S. M. THOMPSON and S. J. DAWSON, et al., Phys. Rev. B 49 (1994) 1064.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Physics, Liaocheng University, Liaocheng City, Shandong Province, 252000, People’s Rebublic of China

    Changzheng Wang & Xiaoguang Xiao

  2. School of Materials Science and Engineering, Shanghai Jiaotong University, Shanghai, 200030, People’s Rebublic of China

    Yonghua Rong & T. Y. Hsu (Xu Zuyao)

Authors
  1. Changzheng Wang
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Xiaoguang Xiao
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Yonghua Rong
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. T. Y. Hsu (Xu Zuyao)
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Changzheng Wang.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Wang, C., Xiao, X., Rong, Y. et al. The effect of substrate temperature on the microstructure and tunnelling magnetoresistance of FeCo–Al2O3 nanogranular films. J Mater Sci 41, 3873–3879 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10853-006-6683-8

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10853-006-6683-8

Keywords

Search

Navigation