Effect of oxidation on the magnetic properties of unprotected TbFe thin films

Amorphous Tb-Fe thin films prepared by dual magnetron cosputtering were exposed to air at 200 °C in order to investigate the evolution of the films as they oxidize. Magnetic properties of the films were measured using a vibrating-sample magnetometer and torque magnetometer and are interpreted in lig...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of applied physics 1986-02, Vol.59 (4), p.1291-1296
Main Authors: VAN DOVER, R. B, GYORGY, E. M, FRANKENTHAL, R. P, HONG, M, SICONOLFI, D. J
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Analysing. Testing. Standards
Applied sciences
Condensed matter: electronic structure, electrical, magnetic, and optical properties
Cross-disciplinary physics: materials science
rheology
Exact sciences and technology
Magnetic properties and materials
Magnetic properties of surface, thin films and multilayers
Materials science
Measurement of properties and materials state
Metals, semimetals and alloys
Metals. Metallurgy
Nondestructive testing
Physics
Specific materials
Citations: Items that this one cites
Items that cite this one
Online Access:Get full text
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
Description
Summary:Amorphous Tb-Fe thin films prepared by dual magnetron cosputtering were exposed to air at 200 °C in order to investigate the evolution of the films as they oxidize. Magnetic properties of the films were measured using a vibrating-sample magnetometer and torque magnetometer and are interpreted in light of the structure of the films as revealed by Auger electron spectroscopy and composition-depth profiling. This leads to a detailed and self-consistent description of the oxidation process. At first a uniform and homogeneous oxidation layer grows from the surface toward the substrate. This layer has a high magnetization and low intrinsic anisotropy and consists of an intimate mixture of oxidized Tb and metallic TbxFe(1−x). The initially high intrinsic anisotropy of the unoxidized region decreases relatively quickly, while the composition changes only slowly as this region shrinks. When the oxidation layer reaches the substrate, two oxide phases (Fe2O3 and Tb2O3) begin to grow at the surface exposed to air.
ISSN:0021-8979
1089-7550
DOI:10.1063/1.336519