Giant magnetoresistance of CoFe/Cu superlattices with the (Ni sub(80)Fe sub(20)) sub( 60)Cr sub(40) buffer layer

• Published in: Physics of metals and metallography Vol. 116; no. 10; pp. 987 - 992
• Main Authors: Bannikova, N S, Milyaev, MA, Naumova, LI, Proglyado, V V, Krinitsina, T P, Kamenskii, IYu, Ustinov, V V
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: 01-10-2015
• Subjects: Buffer layers; Chromium; Copper; Giant magnetoresistance; LATTICES (CRYSTAL); Magnetoresistivity; Optimization; Superlattices; THIN FILMS
• 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(9 0)Fe sub(10)/Cu] sub( )nCr 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 Aa, demonstrates the giant magnetoresistance effect equal to 54% at room temperature.