1 research outputs found
Insights onto the magnetic coupling at hexaferrite-based hard/soft bilayer systems
IBERTRIVA 2019 X Iberian Conference on Tribology – IBERTRIB, XI Iberian Vacuum Conference - RIVA, Seville, Spain,June 26-28Magnets are used in a variety of applications, such as generators, magnetic recording media,
components in RF and microwave devices. However, many of these magnets contain s rare
earths, critical elements whose extraction is environmentally harmful and that present price
volatility risks. Their replacement by cheaper and more environmentally friendly materials is
therefore sought.
In our case, we have focused on magnetically hard strontium hexaferrite (SrFe 12O19, SFO) as
the base for alternative permanent magnets (Figure 1a). The atomic arrangement of this ferrite
results in a high magnetocrystalline anisotropy and a coercive field, however, its magnetization
is moderate (1). It is well known that the coupling between a magnetically hard and soft material
improved magnetization while avoiding a high cost in coercitivity loss (2). However, results have
been disappointing so far as structural and geometrical limitations make it extremely challenging
to fabricate. In this work, we aim at further understanding the magnetic coupling at hard -soft
interfaces involving ferrites, for which we have deposited soft iron and cobalt metals on top of
SrFe12O19 thin films with controlled easy-axis of magnetization.
SFO thin films have been obtained by RF magnetron sputtering at 260W followed by a
subsequent annealing in air of 850ºC. Their structure and composition was characterized by
Raman spectroscospy (Figure 1b), Mössbauer spectroscopy, X-ray photoemission
spectroscopy and low-energy electron microscopy (LEEM). We have grown the magnetically
soft layer by molecular-beam epitaxy and we have analyzed the resulting bilayer system
through photoemission electron microscopy, LEEM and vibrating-sample magnetometry.
References
[1] R.C. Pullar, Hexagonal ferrites: a review of the synthesis, properties and applications of hexaferrite ceramics, Progress in Materials Science 57 (2012), pp 1191¿1334.
[2] Eric E. Fullerton, J. S. Jiang, M. Grimsditch, C. H. Sowers, and S. D. Bader, Exchange-spring behavior in epitaxial hard/soft magnetic bilayers, Phys. Rev. B 58 (1998) 1219