Enhanced magneto-optical Kerr effects and decreased Curie temperature in Co-Mn ferrite thin films

Co-Mn ferrite thin films were prepared on a monocrystalline silicon substra te by a sol-gel process, and the influences of Mn3+ on the microstructure, magnetism, and polar magneto-optical Kerr effects of the as-deposited films were examined. The results reveal that doping of Mn3+ ions could effective ly lower the T-C of Co ferrite, and the Mn3+ substitution caused enhanced K err rotations due to the migration of Co2+ from the octahedral site to the tetrahedral site. A maximum rotation of 2.7 degrees was produced by the str ess in the metastable cubic structure of CoFe0.6Mn1.4O4 films. (C) 2001 Ame rican Institute of Physics.