ELECTRODEPOSITION AND CHARACTERIZATION OF MAGNETIC NI-FE THIN-FILMS ON INP(100) SURFACES

Electrodeposited magnetic Ni-Fe films are used in storage devices and are applicable as magnetic sensors. In this work, we demonstrate the e lectrochemical conditions for deposition of permalloy Ni-Fe nanocrysta lline films onto InP(100) surfaces. The prepared Ni-Fe films were anal yzed by scanning electron microscopy to determine surface morphology a nd by Auger electron spectroscopy for compositional depth profiling. P ermalloy films with bulk composition of 81% Ni and 18% Fe were obtaine d by electrodeposition at -1.2 V (versus standard calomel electrode) i n a bath of 0.5 M NiSO4, 0.02 M FeSO4, 0.4 M H3BO3, pH=3. Transmission electron microscopy measurements show that these films consist of fee Ni-Fe nanocrystallites embedded in an amorphous matrix. The films als o show good magnetic hysteresis loops, with low coercivity. The magnet ic properties of these films are improved by an extended anneal at 100 degrees C. Interdiffusion occurred between Ni-Fe and the InP substrat e after the sample was heated to 300 degrees C, and consequently a los s of ferromagnetic behavior was observed. (C) 1995 American Institute of Physics.