SiO₂ layer thickness effects on the (001) texture of FePtCu:SiO₂ nanocomposite films

The influence of SiO₂ layer thickness of (Fe₅₂Pt₄₈)₈₈Cu₁₂:SiO₂ multilayer nanocomposite films on their structural and magnetic properties were investigated. The films were deposited on (001) textured FePt films, and then annealed at 873 K. The crystalline texture of (Fe₅₂Pt₄₈)₈₈Cu₁₂:SiO₂ films changes drastically with respect to the thickness of the SiO₂ layers. In the film with 50-Å thick SiO₂ layers, the (111) peak was strong although the (001) orientation is dominant, and self-organized spherical FePtCu particles were formed in the SiO₂ matrix. However, in the film with 19-Å thick SiO₂ layers, flat FePt grains with perfect (001) orientation were obtained. In addition, twins with different crystalline orientations were seen in the above films with different thicknesses of the SiO₂ layers. Accordingly, different perpendicular hysteresis loops were obtained.