ELECTRODEPOSITION OF MAGNETIC MULTILAYERS

In this contribution, results obtained in a BRITE-EURAM project on the electrodeposition of composition-modulated alloys (CMM) are presented . Electrodeposited Go-rich Co-Pt-P, natural, very thin multilayers are studied as possible substitutes of Go-based sputtered magnetic record ing media, for their easy production? high magnetisation and coercivit y. The effects of hypophosphite addition to the electrolyte on its ele ctrochemical behaviour and on the magnetic characteristics of the film s are reported. Magnetic coercivity is strongly increased when hypopho sphite is added, but the improvements are not simply related to the P content of the alloy. Co-Pt-P films maintain a high coercivity (>2 kOe ) even at high thicknesses, showing the possibility of their applicati on in microelectromechanical structures. The interaction occurring bet ween Co and Pr is shown by ESCA measurements of the density of states in the valence-band region. The stability of the CMM structure is stud ied for multilayers of Cu and Ni as a function of time and temperature fr om the saturation magnetic moment change, determining the diffusio n coefficient Variation with temperature for the formation of non-magn etic interfaces. (C) 1998 Published by Elsevier Science S.A.