Giant magnetoresistance of CoFe/Cu superlattices with the [.sub.60][Cr.sub.40] buffer layer

• Published in: Physics of metals and metallography p. 987
• Main Authors: Bannikova, N.S, Milyaev, M.A, Naumova, L.I, Proglyado, V.V, Krinitsina, T.P, Kamenskii, I. Yu, Ustinov, V.V
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Springer 01.10.2015
• Subjects: Chromium; Crystals; Magnetic alloys; Structure
• ISSN: 0031-918X; 1555-6190
• DOI: 10.1134/S0031918X15100026

Magnetron sputtering was used to prepare substrate//[([Ni.sub.80][Fe.sub.20]).sub.60][Cr.sub.40]/[[[Co.sub.90][Fe.sub.10]/Cu].sub.n]/Cr superlattices containing permalloy-chromium buffer layer of different thicknesses. To achieve a maximum magnetoresistance of the superlattices, the thickness of their layers has been optimized. The use of the [([Ni.sub.80][Fe.sub.20]).sub.60][Cr.sub.40] buffer layer was found to result in the formation a more perfect crystal structure of subsequent layers of the superlattice compared to that of superlattices with the Cr and [Co.sub.90][Fe.sub.10] buffer layers. The superlattice with the optimum thickness of the [([Ni.sub.80][Fe.sub.20]).sub.60][Cr.sub.40] buffer layer and thin copper layers, the thickness of which is [t.sub.Cu] = 9.5 Å, demonstrates the giant magnetoresistance effect equal to 54% at room temperature. Keywords: giant magnetoresistance effect, superlattices, CoFe/Cu, magnetron sputtering, buffer layer NiFeCr, texture (111) DOI: 10.1134/S0031918X15100026