Sputter deposition of compositional gradient magnetostrictive FeCo based thin films

A thin film of FexCo(1-x) has been produced with a linear compositional gra dient ranging from x=0.67 to x=0.40 via an RF sputtering technique. The fil m was deposited onto a glass slide from a target consisting of two semi-cir cles of pure Fe and Co. We show that such a compositional gradient combined with local magnetic probes allows easy and quick characterisation of the m agnetic properties as a function of composition. The composition dependence of the coercivity, anisotropy and magnetostriction of FexCo(1-x) have been established using this method. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights r eserved.