Effect of buffer layer and external stress on magnetic properties of flexible FeGa films

We systematically investigated the effect of a Ta buffer layer and external stress on the magnetic properties of magnetostrictive Fe₈₁Ga ₁₉ films deposited on flexible polyethylene terephthalate (PET) substrates. The Ta buffer layers could effectively smoothen the rough surface of PET. As a result, the FeGa films grown on Ta buffer layers exhibit a weaker uniaxial magnetic anisotropy and lower coercivity, as compared to those films directly grown on PET substrates. By inward and outward bending the FeGa/Ta/PET samples, external in-plane compressive and tensile stresses were applied to the magnetic films. Due to the inverse magnetostrictive effect of FeGa, both the coercivity and squareness of hysteresis loops for FeGa/Ta films could be well tuned under various strains.