Magnetic properties and microstructure of FePt/Au multilayers with high perpendicular magnetocrystalline anisotropy

Abstract

FePt/Au multilayers were deposited on preheated 100 °C MgO (001) single crystal substrates by magnetron sputtering. Magnetic properties and microstructure of the films were studied. Results show that the film possesses high coercivity HC, excellent perpendicular magnetic anisotropy (PMA), and weak interparticle exchange coupling (IEC) after annealing. FePt and Au can grow epitaxially on MgO substrates along the [001] direction, leading to excellent PMA. Au atoms partly diffuse to the boundaries of FePt phases and function as grain refiners and particle isolators, which markedly decrease the FePt grain size and IEC. Moreover, the additional FePt/Au interface energy, the stress energy due to the mismatch between FePt and Au lattices, and the diffusion of Au atoms all promote the ordering process of FePt film. This leads to the decrease in ordering temperature by 150 °C and a considerable increase in HC.