L1₀-FeNi films on Au-Cu-Ni buffer-layer: a high-throughput combinatorial study.

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Magnetism
• Thin Film Technology

Background:

• The L1₀-FeNi alloy is a promising critical-elements-free magnetic material.
• Au-Cu-Ni alloys show potential, but buffer-layer effects on FeNi phase formation need investigation.

Purpose of the Study:

• Investigate the impact of buffer-layer composition on L1₀-FeNi phase formation.
• Optimize Au-Cu-Ni alloy composition for enhanced magnetic properties using a combinatorial approach.

Main Methods:

• Combinatorial approach utilizing High-Throughput (HT) experimental methods.
• HT magnetic characterization to analyze magnetic properties and phase formation.

Main Results:

• Identified a hard magnetic phase with an out-of-plane easy-axis.
• Coercivity increased from 0.49 to 1.30 kOe as Au content in the Cu-Au-Ni buffer layer decreased.
• Magneto-crystalline anisotropy energy density increased from 0.12 to 0.35 MJ/m³ with decreasing Au content.

Conclusions:

• The magnetic properties are modulated by the Au content in the buffer layer, primarily due to variations in interlayer diffusion.
• These diffusion processes significantly influence the formation and ordering of the L1₀ FeNi phase.
• The study accelerates the search for optimal Au-Cu-Ni compositions for high-performance magnetic materials.