Magnetoresistance behaviour in CoFe/Cu multilayers: thin Cu layer effect

The magnetoresistance properties of the CoFe/Cu multilayers have been investigated as a function of thin non-magnetic Cu layer thickness (from 2.5 to 0.3 nm). CoFe/Cu multilayers were electrodeposited on Ti substrates from a single electrolyte containing their metal ions under potentiostatic control. The structural analysis of the films was made using X-ray diffraction. The peaks appeared at 2θ ≈ 44°, 51°, 74° and 90° are the main Bragg peaks of the multilayers, arising from the (111), (200), (220) and (311) planes of the face-centered cubic structure, respectively. The magnetic characterization was performed by using vibration sample magnetometer in magnetic fields up to ±1600 kA/m. At 0.6, 1.2 and 2.0 nm Cu layer thicknesses, the high saturation magnetization values were observed due to antiferromagnetic coupling of adjacent magnetic layers. Magnetoresistance measurements were carried out using the Van der Pauw method in magnetic fields up to ±1000 kA/m at room temperature. All multilayers exhibited giant magnetoresistance (GMR), and the similar trend in GMR values and GMR field sensitivity was observed depending on the Cu layer thickness.     

流动槽滴入法电结晶制备铜钴纳米多层膜

在硼酸镀液体系中采用流动槽滴入法电结晶制得Cu/Co纳米多层膜,通过循环伏安法确定Cu、Co电结晶电位,分别为-0.55V和-1.05V(vs.SCE),通过X射线衍射技术(XRD)和X射线荧光光谱法(XRF)对Cu/Co纳米多层膜的结构、成份进行了分析.并用物性测量系统PPMS测试了Cu/Co多层膜的磁性能,结果表明:电结晶制备的Cu/Co多层膜的矫顽力比较小,仅为34 Oe,适合作巨磁阻磁头材料,其磁电阻随磁场强度的增大而减小,且约在3000 Oe时磁电阻趋于饱和,此时的巨磁阻效应GMR值达到了14%.     

Dependence of Magnetoresistance on the Thickness of a Dusted Al Spacer Inserted in CoFe／Cu／CoFe Sandwiches

A series of CoFe(4nm)/Cu(X nm)Al(Y nm)/CoFe(6 nm） samples have been prepared at room temperature.An exponential decay of the GMR (Giant Magnetoresistance) with Y was observed for fixed X=2nm.The characteristic decay parameter of Al is obtained to be about 0.26nm,which is rather close to 1 monolayer for Al.A coexistant state of GMR and AMR (anisotropic magnetoresistance) was observed when Y=2nm.As the Cu spacer is replaced by Al layer,only AMR effect dominates.The experimental data further underline the important role played by the nonmagnetic spacers.     

NiO／NiFeCo／Cu／NiFeCo自旋阀结构的巨磁电阻效应及影响因素的研究

用电子蒸发的方法制备ＮｉＯ／ＮｉＦｅＣ／Ｃｕ／ＮｉＦｅＣｏ自旋阀多层膜,通过磁场中退火得到好的偏置型自旋阀ＧＭＲ效应。通过对制备态以及磁场退火后样品的ＭＲ曲线的研究,讨论了交换耦合作用,单层磁性能以及层间耦合作用对材料ＧＭＲ效应的大小和磁场灵敏度的影响,得出提高交换耦合作用,改善单层磁性能和尽可能减小层间耦合将有得于得到高性能的偏置型自旋阀ＧＭＲ材料的结论。     

Characterizations of NiCu/Cu Multilayers: Dependence of Nonmagnetic Layer Thickness

A series of NiCu/Cu multilayers were grown on (110) textured polycrystalline Cu substrates from a single electrolyte under potentiostatic deposition conditions. Microstructure, magnetoresistance and magnetic properties of the multilayers were investigated as a function of the nonmagnetic layer thicknesses. The structural studies by X-ray diffraction revealed that the multilayers have face-centered-cubic structure with preferred (110) crystal orientation as their substrates. The composition of the deposits determined by energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy showed that the Cu content of the films increased as the Cu layer thickness increased. The scanning electron microscope studies showed that samples have homogeneous and smooth surfaces. Multilayers exhibited either anisotropic magnetoresistance (AMR) or giant magnetoresistance (GMR) depending on the non-magnetic Cu layer thickness. The multilayers with Cu layer thickness thicker than 0.7 nm exhibited GMR, but the AMR effect was observed to be dominant for the Cu layer thickness less than 0.7 nm. The GMR curves are broad in shape and the nonsaturated curves indicated the predominance of a superparamagnetic contribution. The GMR magnitudes of NiCu/Cu multilayers are found to be about 1–1.5 %. The vibrating sample magnetometer measurements revealed that the saturation magnetization decrease with increasing nonmagnetic layer thickness. The changes in the magnetic and magnetotransport properties might arise from the change in the Ni and Cu content of the samples caused by the variation of Cu layer thicknesses.     

Interlayer Coupling and Magnetoresistance of MnIr-Based Spin Valves: Dependencies on Deposition Rate, Spacer Thickness, and Temperature

We present a study of the dependence of Cu spacer interlayer coupling field (H_coupl) on the thickness t of the Cu and the deposition rate of the layers in spin valves (SVs). We considered two series of SVs made of NiFe/CoFe/Cu/CoFe/Mnlr with Cu t ranging from 16 to 26 Aring. In series 1, the deposition rates were 0.49 A/s for Cu and 0.29 Aring/s for CoFe. In series 2, the deposition rates were lower: 0.28 Aring/s for Cu and 0.23 Aring/s for CoFe. We found that lowering the deposition rates led to considerably lower H_coupl; about ~24 Oe in series 1 versus about 13 Oe in series 2, both with t = 19 A and temperature T = 300 K. In both series, we observed an increase of H_coupl when t is reduced (as would be expected from Neel coupling dominance). The increase is weaker in the low deposition rate series. The difference is related to the different roughness of the ferromagnetic/nonferromagnetic interfaces under the two deposition rates. We also measured the temperature dependence of the magnetoresistance (MR), starting at 20 K, observing values between 9% and 16% for series 2 and between 13% and 16% for series 1. MR then decreased linearly with increasing T for all SVs, vanishing at a temperature T₀ of about 600 K, well below the bulk Curie point. However, we observed a striking difference between series 1 and series 2 in the temperature dependence of the dGMR/dT slopes, where GMR is the giant magnetoresistance.     

用FTMS方法制备Co／Cu巨磁阻超晶格多层薄膜

本文用双靶相对磁控溅射法（ＦＴＭＳ）在云母单晶基板上原位生长了巨磁阻Ｃｏ／Ｃｕ超晶格薄膜，研究了放电气压及背景真空对薄膜结构和电磁性质的影响。     

Giant Magnetoresistance and Magnetic Properties of CoFe/Cu Multilayer Films: Dependence of Electrolyte pH

The effect of NaOH with different concentrations on CoFe/Cu multilayer films was studied between pH=3.70 and pH=2.70. The effect of different electrolyte pH from 3.7 to 2.7, which was obtained at various NaOH concentrations, on CoFe/Cu multilayer films was studied. The structural studies by x-ray diffraction (XRD) revealed that the multilayers have face-centered cubic structure. The preferential orientation of the multilayer is in the (220), (111), (111), and (222) direction at pH=3.7,3.3,3.0 and 2.7, respectively. It was observed that at pH=3.0, the film composition, by energy dispersive x-ray spectroscopy (EDX), contains 3.22 at. Co % and 96.78 at. Cu %, and at low pH (2.7), 10.58 at. Co %, 4.18 at. Fe % and 85.24 at. Cu %. Magnetoresistance measurements made at room temperature showed that all films exhibited giant magnetoresistance (GMR), which was affected by the electrolyte pH. The observed GMR values are 4.0 %, 4.6 %, 4.2 %, and 12 % at the pH values of 3.7, 3.3, 3.0 and 2.7, respectively. Magnetic measurements of the films were made at ±20 kOe by using ADE EV 9 model a vibrating sample magnetometer. The magnetic measurements revealed that the coercivity of the films increased from 70 Oe to 93 Oe and stayed there, and the saturation magnetization monotonically increased form 7.40 emu/g to 17.05 emu/g with decreasing electrolyte pH from 3.7 to 2.7.     

GMR in Ni/Cu multilayers: an electronic structure study

Ab initio self-consistent semi-relativistic spin-polarized TB-LMTO energy band calculations have been carried out on Ni/Cu(100) multilayers, to study the in-plane as well as perpendicular to plane giant magnetoresistance (GMR) effects. The magnetic interaction energies, evaluated as a function of layer thickness, indicate that the antiferromagnetic ordering is a possible ground state for manifestation of GMR. Using the density of states at Fermi level and the Fermi velocity, GMR has been estimated as a function of the Cu spacer thickness.     

Giant Magnetoresistance Effect of [bcc-Fe(M)/Cu](M=Co,Ni) Multilayers

1. IlltroductionGiant magnetoresistance (GMR) effect of metallic multilayers has been widely investigated after thefinding by Baibich et al.11], as a new phenomenon tobreak through the memory density in ultra high density magnetic recording, high sensitivity in magnetichead, and so on. Metallic multilsyers of 3d transition elements could be classified into three groups of[bee/bcc], [fee/fccl and [bee/fcc] from the standpointof combination of crystal structure of constituting elements of metal…     

Structural and magnetic characterization of electrodeposited Ni/Cu multilayers

Ni/Cu multilayers were electrodeposited from a single solution electrolyte by galvanostatic method. Interface roughness, magnetization and magneto-transport studies of Ni/Cu multilayers on Si(1 1 1)/Ti/Cu substrate were carried out for samples deposited from three different electrolytes, viz. pure sulphate, sulphate–citrate and sulphate-polyethylene glycol-8000 (PEG-8000). The top Ni-layer morphology of these samples was characterized by atomic force microscope (AFM). Detailed analysis of the morphological data showed a typical two-dimensional fractal growth pattern in all the three cases. The structural parameters like interface roughness, density and thicknesses of Ni and Cu layers were extracted from neutron reflectivity (NR) study. The order of interface roughness obtained from NR and AFM was found to be quite close. The sample deposited from sulphate–citrate electrolyte was found to have minimum interface roughness. The polarized neutron reflectometry (PNR) measurement showed reduced magnetic moment value (∼0.41 ± 0.01 μ_B) for nickel layers compared to bulk value in all the three samples. The magnetoresistance (MR) of these samples were measured at room temperature. An attempt has been made to explain the observed MR results in terms of granular structure and scattering mechanism involving super-paramagnetic and ferromagnetic particles in these samples.     

RIE对巨磁电阻自旋阀磁性能的影响

对巨磁电阻自旋阀磁场传感器制作中的关键技术之一：自旋阀薄膜的反应离子刻蚀(RIE)工艺,进行了试验研究。自旋阀结构为：Ta(3．5nm)／Cu(0．7nm)／NiFe(4．5nm)／CoFe(1nm)／Cu(3nm)／CoFe(2nm)／Ru(0．7nm)／CoFe(2nm)／MnIr(8nm)／Ta(4nm),刻蚀气体为氢氯碳氟化合物(HCFC：Hydro—chloro—fluoro—carbon),气体流量为10．5seem,RF功率为180W,时间为27min。结果表明：RIE技术可以加工出理想的巨磁电阻自旋阀薄膜图形,且加工过程对自旋阀的磁性能影响不大,这些结果对于巨磁电阻自旋阀型集成磁传感器的批量制作具有积极意义。     

Properties of Electrodeposited CoFeNi/Cu Superlattices: The Effect of CoFeNi and Cu Layers Thicknesses

CoFeNi/Cu superlattices were grown on Ti substrate by electrodeposition as a function of the ferromagnetic and non-magnetic layer thicknesses. In order to examine the effect of the Cu layer thickness on the film properties, the Cu layer thickness was changed from 0.5 to 6 nm, while the CoFeNi layer thickness was kept constant at 4 nm. Also, for the CoFeNi layer effect, the CoFeNi layer thickness was changed from 2 to 15 nm, while the Cu layer thickness was fixed at 4 nm. The structural analysis studied by X-ray diffraction indicated that the superlattices have face-centered-cubic structure. Magnetic characteristics were investigated by vibrating sample magnetometer. From the hysteresis curves, the coercivity and the saturation magnetization were determined. It was found that the easy-axis of the films is parallel to the film plane. Magnetoresistance measurements were made by the Van der Pauw method at the room temperature with magnetic fields up to ±12 kOe. All superlattices exhibited giant magnetoresistance (GMR). As the ferromagnetic layer thickness increased up to 4 nm, the GMR value increases up to 22 % and then decreases. The superlattices saturated at the lower magnetic layers with increasing ferromagnetic layer thickness. The maximum GMR value was obtained to be 22 % for a superlattice with 375[CoFeNi(4 nm)/Cu(4 nm)].     

Stretchable magnetoelectronics

We fabricated [Co/Cu] multilayers revealing a giant magnetoresistance (GMR) effect on free-standing elastic poly(dimethylsiloxane) (PDMS) membranes. The GMR performance of [Co/Cu] multilayers on rigid silicon and on free-standing PDMS is similar and does not change with tensile deformations up to 4.5%. Mechanical deformations imposed on the sensor are totally reversible, due to the elasticity of the PDMS membranes. This remarkable performance upon stretching relies on a wrinkling of GMR layers on top of the PDMS membrane.     

具有覆盖层的Co/Cu/Co三明治的巨磁电阻效应研究

研究了覆盖层为铁磁性的Fe和非铁磁性的Ti、Cu的Co/Cu/Co三明治在室温和低温下的巨磁电阻效应。实验结果表明,室温下有覆盖层时,Co/Cu/Co三明治的巨磁电阻效应值没有明显变化,但以Fe为覆盖层的样品的矫顽力和饱和场明显减小,而Ti、Cu覆盖层对三明治样品的矫顽力和饱和场无太大的影响。温度降低时,覆盖层使Co/Cu/Co三明治的巨磁电阻值显著增加,表明样品的巨磁电阻效应与覆盖层及其与上层Co所形成的界面密切相关。     

Nanostructure and giant magnetoresistive properties of granular systems

This article aims to make a connection between the microstructures of various nanostructured alloys and giant magnetoresistive (GMR) properties. The GMR behavior of nanoclusters embedded in a nonmagnetic matrix differs considerably from an alloy with the content of a magnetic phase above the percolation threshold; that is to say, an increase of GMR effect upon going from 300 to 10 K for the former and a decrease of the GMR effect for the latter. The following materials systems were examined with high-resolution transmission electron microscopy and magnetoelectrical resistance measurements: magnetic Co and CoFe nanoclusters in a Au matrix, NiFe clusters in a Cu matrix, and NiFe/Cu spinodal decomposition waves with interconnection of the magnetic phase. After annealing (> or = 300 degrees C), Co particles in Au become semi- or incoherent, whereas under other conditions and in all other systems, the interfaces remain coherent. This state of coherency at the interface between magnetic particles and a nonmagnetic matrix turned out to have a detectable influence on the GMR behavior.     

Magnetic anisotropy of the ultrathin Fe layers in Fe/NiFe/Fe/Cu multilayers and their effect to the magnetoresistance

The effects of the deposition of ultrathin ⁵⁷Fe layers on both sides of the NiFe layers in NiFe/Cu multilayers were investigated by focusing on their structural, magnetic and magnetoresistance properties. Conversion electron Mössbauer spectroscopy measurements showed an out-of-plane magnetic anisotropy of the Fe layers. The magnetoresistance curves showed an unusual shape, where up to three peaks were observed. Eight variables computer simulations, based on a phenomenological model that considers bilinear and biquadratic couplings between layers with cubic and in-plane uniaxial anisotropies, were used in order to calculate the best-fitting magnetization curves for the NiFe/Cu and Fe/NiFe/Fe/Cu multilayers. Both model and Mössbauer spectroscopy results showed that it is the rotation of the Fe magnetic moment from out-of-plane to in-plane orientation that provokes the unusual magnetoresistance curve shape. The observed reduction of the magnetoresistance amplitude with the addition of one monolayer of Fe in the NiFe/Cu multilayer was attributed to a less-effective spin-dependent scattering that occurs at Fe/Cu and Fe/NiFe interfaces than at the NiFe/Cu interfaces.     

Cu层和Mo层对NiFe多层膜巨磁电阻（GMR）的影响

采用磁控溅射方法制备了ＮｉＦｅ／Ｃｕ和ＮｉＦｅ／Ｍｏ两个系列的多层膜，进行了结构，磁性和磁电阻测量，并对部分ＮｉＦｅ／Ｃｕ多层膜样品作了电镜分析，对于ＮｉＦｅ／Ｃｕ多层膜，在室温下的测量到巨磁电阻随Ｃｕ层厚度振荡的第一，二三峰。在ＮｉＦｅ／Ｍｏ多层膜样品中未发现巨磁电阻效应，讨论了非磁性 多层膜的磁性，界面结构和巨磁电阻效应。     

Feasibility of TEOS coated CoFe2O4 nanoparticles to a GMR biosensor agent for single molecular detection

Magnetic properties of 200 nm ferrimagnetic CoFe2O4 nanoparticles before and after coating with TEOS were explored and compared to soft ferrimagnetic MgFe2O4 nanoparticles (200 nm) to evaluate the feasibility as an in-vitro GMR SV (giant magnetoresistance spin-valve) biosensor agent for single molecular detection (SMD). It was found that the magnetic degradation (or variation) of TEOS coated CoFe2O4 and MgFe2O4 nanoparticles are dominantly affected by the chemical dispersion process, which is carried out in the oleic acid (OA), oleylamine (OL), or OA+OL surfactant, before starting major coating process. In addition, the TEOS coating thickness controlled by TEOS concentration and pH level in the buffer solution prominently influenced on the magnetic degradation of TEOS coated nanoparticles. According to the experimental analysis results, the magnetic degradation of TEOS coated nanoparticles is mainly attributed to the variation of particle dipole interaction caused by the degree of particle aggregation depending on TEOS coating process conditions. The TEOS coated CoFe2O4 nanoparticles exhibited a higher magnetic stability for a GMR biosensor agent, e.g., small variation of remnant magnetization, saturation magnetization and magnetic coercivity, than that of MgFe2O4 nanoparticles at the different coating process conditions. The physical and chemical analysis confirmed that this is primarily due to its higher magnetic anisotropy. The experimentally verified high biocompatibility as well as the stably maintained magnetic properties of TEOS coated CoFe2O4 nanoparticles demonstrate that CoFe2O4 nanoparticles can be considered as one of the promising ferrimagnetic nanoparticle sensor agent for an SMD GMR SV biosensor.     

Negative Magnetoresistance in Dual Spin Valve Structures With a Synthetic Antiferromagnetic Free Layer

Giant magnetoresistance (GMR) in spin valves is due to spin-dependent scattering occurring at ferromagnet/normal metal (F/N) interfaces and/or in the ferromagnetic layers. In a spin valve with a typical F/N/F structure where the spin scattering asymmetry factor $(alpha)$ of both F/N interfaces is the same (more or less than 1), the GMR is expected to be positive. If $alpha$ is greater than one at one F/N interface and less than one at the other F/N interface, however, the GMR is expected to be negative. Here, we show that the F1/Cu/SAF/Cu/F2/IrMn dual spin valve structure exhibits negative GMR, where F1 and F2 are CoFe and ${rm SAF} = {rm CoFe}/{rm Ru} t/{rm CoFe}$, due to both opposite electron spin scattering asymmetry factor at the CoFe/Ru/CoFe interfaces as well as the electrical separation of the overall structure into two GMR spin valves connected in parallel. A GMR of 6% is observed in the structure without the Ru spacer layer, insertion of a 0.6 nm thick Ru in the SAF results in a negative GMR ratio of ${-}3hbox{%}$ , which becomes positive again at the Ru thickness of 0.8 nm, the oscillation from positive to negative MR is consistent with interlayer exchange coupling period across the Ru spacer.