Exchange bias in NiFe/granular-FeMn-MgO bilayers

Journal Article · Mon Sep 22 04:00:00 EDT 2008 · Applied Physics Letters

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1063/1.2989134· OSTI ID:21175609

Hu, H N; Qiu, X P; Shi, Z; Zhou, S M ^[1]; Bai, X J; Du, J ^[2]; Sun, L ^[3]

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1. Applied Surface Physics Laboratory (National Key Laboratory) and Department of Physics, Fudan University, Shanghai 200433 (China)
2. National Laboratory of Solid State Microstructures, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210093 (China)
3. Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Houston, Houston, Texas 77204 (United States)

A series of polycrystalline NiFe/(FeMn){sub 1-x}(MgO){sub x} bilayers with granular antiferromagnetic layers were prepared by magnetron sputtering. For a specific antiferromagnetic layer thickness, the intensity of the fcc (111) x-ray diffraction peaks from Cu, NiFe, and FeMn layers, and the FeMn grain size exhibit maxima at x=0.025. At this composition, significant enhancement in exchange field is observed together with slight change in coercivity. Remarkably, the training effect in exchange bias is greatly suppressed. These observations indicate the possibility of utilizing granular antiferromagnetic layers in magnetoelectronic devices to improve thermal stability.

• OSTI ID: 21175609
• Journal Information: Applied Physics Letters, Journal Name: Applied Physics Letters Journal Issue: 12 Vol. 93; ISSN APPLAB; ISSN 0003-6951
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE
ANTIFERROMAGNETIC MATERIALS
ANTIFERROMAGNETISM
COERCIVE FORCE
DEPOSITION
EXCHANGE INTERACTIONS
FCC LATTICES
FERROMAGNETIC MATERIALS
GRAIN SIZE
GRANULAR MATERIALS
IRON ALLOYS
LAYERS
MAGNESIUM OXIDES
MAGNETRONS
MANGANESE ALLOYS
NICKEL ALLOYS
POLYCRYSTALS
SPUTTERING
X-RAY DIFFRACTION