The effect of varying Co layer thickness on the time-temperature characteristics of Co/Sb semimetal embedded magnetic nanoparticles

Journal Article · Sat Mar 14 00:00:00 EDT 2015 · Journal of Applied Physics

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1063/1.4914543· OSTI ID:22399257

Madden, M. R.; Alshammary, T.; Grove, B.; Phillips, J.; Reaz, K.; Hensley, S.; Kenning, G. G. ^[1]

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1. Department of Physics, Indiana University of Pennsylvania, Indiana, Pennsylvania 15705-1098 (United States)

We report the effect of varying cobalt thickness on the temperature-dependent time decay of the electrical resistance of Co/Sb multilayer samples. We find that for a given temperature, a five fold change in the Co thickness produces a 100 fold change in the characteristic decay time of the resistance. We find that the characteristic decay time, as a function of temperature, follows an Arrhenius law. During deposition, the Co evolves single domain magnetic nanoparticles, on the Sb, in either a Volmer-Weber or Stranski-Krastanov growth mode. This metastable state is then encased in 2.5 nm of Sb producing an embedded nanoparticle system. Scanning tunneling microscopy measurements taken before sample aging (annealing at a given temperature for enough time to complete the resistance decay) and after aging show that these nanoparticles undergo morphological transformations during aging. These transformations lead to well defined time dependent decays in both the magnetization and the electrical resistance, making this material an excellent candidate for an electronic time-temperature sensor.

• OSTI ID: 22399257
• Journal Information: Journal of Applied Physics, Vol. 117, Issue 10; Other Information: (c) 2015 AIP Publishing LLC; Country of input: International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA); ISSN 0021-8979
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS
GENERAL PHYSICS
77 NANOSCIENCE AND NANOTECHNOLOGY
AGING
ANNEALING
ANTIMONY
COBALT
DEPOSITION
ELECTRIC CONDUCTIVITY
INTERFACES
LAYERS
MAGNETIZATION
METASTABLE STATES
NANOPARTICLES
PHASE TRANSFORMATIONS
SCANNING TUNNELING MICROSCOPY
TEMPERATURE DEPENDENCE
THICKNESS
TIME DEPENDENCE