Intermittent deposition and interface formation on the microstructure and magnetic properties of NiFe/Cu composite wires

In this work, magnetron sputtering in the form of continuous deposition or intermittent deposition modes was used to obtain NiFe/Cu composite wires. Based on the results, intermittent deposition mode led to the formation of an interface between deposited layers. A better crystallite and a little grain growth were found for the intermittently deposited wire. Good soft magnetic properties and large giant magneto-impedance (GMI) effect were exhibited by both composite wires. The GMI profile for the intermittently deposited composite wire was characterized by two peaks, which could be attributed to the difference in the magnetic properties of the inner and the outer magnetic layers. Annealing was introduced to the intermittently deposited wire so that the inherent stresses were partially relaxed. As a result, its GMI effect was enhanced and the magnetic properties of the two magnetic layers became similar. Hysteresis loops of the composite wires displayed different magnetic behaviors and hence further affirmed the GMI results.