Enhancement of the giant magnetoimpedance effect and its magnetic response in ion-irradiated magnetic amorphous ribbons

The influences of N and Xe ion irradiation on the giant magnetoimpedance (GMI) effect and its magnetic response in Co₆₉Fe_4.5Al_1.5Si₁₀B₁₅ amorphous ribbons were systematically investigated. A large enhancement of the GMI effect and its magnetic response were achieved in N and Xe ion-irradiated amorphous ribbons. At a frequency of 3 MHz, the GMI ratio and magnetic response for an N-ion-irradiated amorphous ribbon respectively reached the highest values of 130% and 13%/Oe, while for a non-irradiated amorphous ribbon they were only about 53% and 8%/Oe. The enhancement of the GMI effect and magnetic response in the ion-irradiated amorphous ribbons resulted from the enhancement of the permeability due to rotational magnetization. Our studies indicate that low energy ion irradiation is useful for improving the magnetic softness, GMI and magnetic response of amorphous alloys, which is of practical importance for the development of high-performance magnetic sensors.     

Investigation of Structural, Magnetic and Magnetotransport Properties of Electrodeposited Co–TiO2 Nanocomposite Films

Nanocomposite Co?CTiO₂ thin films were prepared by simultaneous electrodeposition of Co and TiO₂ on a Cu substrate from a solution based on Co sulfate in which TiO₂ nanoparticles were suspended by stirring. We investigated the influence of the TiO₂ nanoparticles concentration in the bath on the morphology, composition, magnetic and magnetotransport properties of the films. The Co?CTiO₂ thin films were characterized by using scanning electron microscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction analyses, and their magnetic properties were evaluated by using an induction type device with data acquisition system and a torque magnetometer. The current in-plane transport properties of the films have been investigated. The results showed that the films were composed of a Co metal matrix containing embedded TiO₂ nanoparticles and cobalt hydroxide which is formed simultaneously with cobalt metal deposition. The amount of TiO₂ in the film increases with the rising concentration of TiO₂ nanoparticles in the plating bath. This complex structure favored the increase of the magnetoresistance. The Co?CTiO₂ nanocomposite films (containing about 1.3 at.% Ti) exhibit a giant magnetoresistance contribution of 47.6 %. From the magnetic measurements, we have found that the saturation magnetization, the magnetic susceptibility, and the effective magnetic anisotropy constant decrease with the increasing content of TiO₂ in the thin layer. The easy magnetization axis direction changes from in-plane to almost perpendicular-to-plane, with increasing TiO₂ nanoparticles content in the film. The existence of a giant magnetoresistance effect in Co?CTiO₂ is very promising for potential applications in spintronics.     

Study of phase transformation and crystal structure for 1D carbon-modified titania ribbons

One-dimensional hydrogen titanate ribbons were successfully prepared with hydrothermal reaction in a highly basic solution. A series of one-dimensional carbon-modified TiO₂ ribbons were prepared via calcination of the mixture of hydrogen titanate ribbons and sucrose solution under N₂ flow at different temperatures. The phase transformation process of hydrogen titanate ribbons was investigated by in-situ X-ray diffraction at various temperatures. Besides, one-dimensional carbon-modified TiO₂ ribbons calcined at different temperatures were characterized by X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, nitrogen adsorption isotherms, diffuse reflectance ultraviolet–visible spectroscopy, and so on. Carbon-modified TiO₂ ribbons showed one-dimensional ribbon crystal structure and various crystal phases of TiO₂. After being modified with carbon, a layer of uniform carbon film was coated on the surface of TiO₂ ribbons, which improved their adsorption capacity for methyl orange as a model organic pollutant. One-dimensional carbon-modified TiO₂ ribbons also exhibited enhanced visible-light absorbance with the increase of calcination temperatures.     

Effects of thickness and heat treatments on giant magnetoimpedance of electrodeposited cobalt on silver wires

We studied the effects of thickness and heat treatments on giant magnetoimpedance (GMI) of cobalt-coated silver wires from 1 kHz to 100 MHz, under axial static magnetic field of 2 kOe. Cobalt, of thickness ranging from 1 to 25 /spl mu/m, was electro-deposited on 47.7-/spl mu/m-diameter silver wires. The frequency dependence of GMI varied with cobalt thickness with a maximum of 176% in 10-/spl mu/m-thick cobalt at the characteristic frequency 2 MHz. The characteristic frequency decreased with increasing thickness of cobalt layer but it was rather insensitive to dc Joule heating and conventional furnace annealing. However, both heat treatments led to magnetic hardening and decrease in GMI ratio. Joule heating also induced anisotropy in wire structures normally dominated by axial anisotropy.     

Structure, morphology and magnetic properties of Fe-B-Si-Nb glassy alloy thin film prepared by a pulsed laser deposition method

With the aim of applying to a soft magnetic underlayer of the double-layered perpendicular magnetic recording media, an Fe_74.9B_17.5Si_2.5Nb_5.1 alloy thin film was fabricated on Si substrate by a pulsed laser deposition method. The Fe-based alloy thin film of 200 nm in thickness was confirmed as a glassy structure. The thermal properties of the thin film have similar features to those for the melt-spun glassy alloy ribbon. The glassy alloy thin film exhibits good soft magnetic properties, i.e., high B_s of 1.2 T and in-plane low H_c of 134 A/m. The Fe-B-Si-Nb glassy alloy thin film is expected to be suitable for the soft magnetic underlayer material in the double-layered perpendicular magnetic recording media.     

RBS,XRR and optical reflectivity measurements of Ti–TiO2 thin films deposited by magnetron sputtering

Single-, bi- and tri-layered films of Ti–TiO₂ system were deposited by d.c. pulsed magnetron sputtering from metallic Ti target in an inert Ar or reactive Ar + O₂ atmosphere. The nominal thickness of each layer was 50 nm. The chemical composition and its depth profile were determined by Rutherford backscattering spectroscopy (RBS). Crystallographic structure was analysed by means of X-ray diffraction (XRD) at glancing incidence. X-ray reflectometry (XRR) was used as a complementary method for the film thickness and density evaluation. Modelling of the optical reflectivity spectra of Ti–TiO₂ thin films deposited onto Si(1 1 1) substrates provided an independent estimate of the layer thickness. The combined analysis of RBS, XRR and reflectivity spectra indicated the real thickness of each layer less than 50 nm with TiO₂ film density slightly lower than the corresponding bulk value. Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) cross-sectional images revealed the columnar growth of TiO₂ layers. Thickness estimated directly from SEM studies was found to be in a good agreement with the results of RBS, XRR and reflectivity spectra.     

Optimization of the thickness of glass/TiO2/Ag/Ti/TiO2/SiON multilayer film

The TiO₂/Ag/Ti/TiO₂/SiON multilayer film was deposited on glass substrate at room temperature using magnetron sputtering method. By varying the thickness of each layer, the optical property was optimized to achieve good selective spectral filtering performance in Vis-NIR region. The multilayer film achieves maximum transmittance of 92.7% at 690 nm, in which the both TiO₂ layers are 33 nm. For good conductivity and transmittance, a 4 nm Ti layer and a 30 nm SiON layer are necessary.     

Effect of TiO2 nanoparticles aggregation in silicate thin coating films on photocatalytic behavior for antifouling materials

Two types of disperser namely, a high speed agitation bead mill and a colloidal mill, were used for the dispersion behavior control of TiO₂ nanoparticles (20 nm in average primary diameter) in an aqueous suspension. A composite thin film raging in thickness from 90 to 400 nm was prepared from the coating suspension following the addition of a commercial ethyl silicate oligomer binder into the prepared suspension by means of a spray coating method. The mean aggregate size of TiO₂ nanoparticles in the aqueous suspension was found to be 80 nm and 290 nm in diameter, respectively, when using the agitated bead and colloidal milling methods. Large aggregates on the order of several hundred nanometers were found to remain in the suspension after colloidal milling. Further, a fine dispersion of TiO₂ nanoparticles in the thin film produced using the agitation bead milling process promoted the photocatalytic activity and enhanced transparency of the film for visible light. The aggregate structure of TiO₂ nanoparticles in an aqueous suspension was well maintained in the film prepared by a spray coating process.     

应力作用下电流退火对钴基非晶薄带的巨磁阻抗效应的影响研究

采用应力作用下的直流电流退火处理Co68.2Fe2.3Mo2Si12.5B15非晶薄带，详细讨论了应力退火前后Co基薄带的巨磁阻抗效应的变化，以及退火时间对巨磁阻抗效应的影响，研究表明：应力作用下的电流退火有利于巨磁阻抗效应的提高，并可以通过控制退火时间控制阻抗与外场变化关系曲线形状。     

Co-emission of UV, violet and green photoluminescence of ZnO/TiO2 thin film

ZnO/TiO₂ thin films were fabricated on quartz glass substrates by E-beam evaporation. The structural and optical properties were investigated by X-ray diffraction (XRD), Raman spectra, optical transmittance and photoluminescence. XRD analysis indicates that the TiO₂ buffer layer can increase the preferential orientation along the (002) plane of the ZnO film. PL measurements suggest that co-emission of strong UV peak at 378 nm, violet peak at 423 nm and weak green luminescence at 544 nm is observed in the ZnO/TiO₂ thin film. The violet luminescence emission at 423 nm is attributed to the interface trap in the ZnO film grain boundaries.     

Microstructure, Magnetic and Electronic Transport Properties of Co–TiO2 Nanocomposite Films in Metal Matrix

In this work, Co–TiO₂ metallic composite films with a novel nanostructure have been electrodeposited in potentiostatic regime onto copper substrates, from a solution based on cobalt sulfate containing suspended TiO₂ nanoparticles, with magnetic stirring of the electrolyte. The effect of deposited film thickness on the morphology, microstructure, and composition of the films was investigated by X-ray diffraction, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy and energy dispersive spectroscopy. Functional properties (magnetic and electronic transport) of films with different thicknesses were studied in a view to find out the possibility for some technological applications. Nanocomposite Co–TiO₂ films contain three main phases: hcp Co crystalline grains (9–10 nm average size), TiO₂ nanoparticles (28 nm average diameter) embedded in Co metallic matrix and Co(OH)₂ adsorbed on the crystallite frontiers. The films display hysteresis (coercive field of 7.8÷11.9 kA/m) and significant values of magnetoresistance (with a maximum of ?59 % in the case of 0.07 μm film thickness). These properties can be qualitatively explained both by the elastic spin-dependent scattering of the conduction electrons at the interface between the magnetic Co matrix grains and the nonmagnetic regions, and by occurrence of antiferromagnetic coupling between Co crystallites, favored by inclusion in film of TiO₂ nanoparticles.     

Ag surfactant effects of TiO2 films prepared by sputter deposition

The surfactant effect of Ag on the thin film structure of TiO₂ by radio frequency magnetron sputtering has been investigated. Comparisons between the atomic force microscopy images revealed that the surface roughness of TiO₂ film mediated by Ag was smaller than that of the TiO₂ film without Ag. The surface segregation effect of Ag was confirmed using X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. The results of X-ray diffraction revealed that the initial deposition of a 0.4 nm thick Ag surfactant layer onto a Fe buffer layer prior to the deposition of the TiO₂ film reduced the rutile (110) growth and enhanced the anatase (100) growth. It was concluded that Ag was an effective surfactant for changing the thin film structure of TiO₂ on the Fe buffer layer. The photocatalytic effect of the fabricated TiO₂ film was also investigated using the remote oxidation process. TiO₂ films with the Ag surfactant exhibited higher photocatalytic activity than conventionally deposited TiO₂ films.     

Ag surfactant effects of TiO2 films prepared by sputter deposition

The surfactant effect of Ag on the thin film structure of TiO₂ by radio frequency magnetron sputtering has been investigated. Comparisons between the atomic force microscopy images revealed that the surface roughness of TiO₂ film mediated by Ag was smaller than that of the TiO₂ film without Ag. The surface segregation effect of Ag was confirmed using X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. The results of X-ray diffraction revealed that the initial deposition of a 0.4 nm thick Ag surfactant layer onto a Fe buffer layer prior to the deposition of the TiO₂ film reduced the rutile (110) growth and enhanced the anatase (100) growth. It was concluded that Ag was an effective surfactant for changing the thin film structure of TiO₂ on the Fe buffer layer. The photocatalytic effect of the fabricated TiO₂ film was also investigated using the remote oxidation process. TiO₂ films with the Ag surfactant exhibited higher photocatalytic activity than conventionally deposited TiO₂ films.     

Preparation of one-dimensional photonic crystals by sol-gel process for magneto-optical materials

One-dimensional photonic crystal (PC) of periodically alternating low (SiO₂) and high (TiO₂) refractive index materials was prepared by sol-gel dip coating method that controls the thickness of each layer with nanometer level. The photonic band gap of high reflectivity was verified at wavelengths between 590 nm and 820 nm, which became significant with increasing the number of bilayer. The UV-vis spectra, SEM image and glow discharge optical emission spectroscopy indicate the periodic structure of SiO₂/TiO₂ multilayer. The magnetic layer of CoFe₂O₄ was also prepared by a sol-gel dip coating method. After the annealing at 700 °C, the single phase of CoFe₂O₄ film with spinel structure, without any preferred crystalline orientation, was obtained. In addition, the one-dimensional magnetophotonic crystal (MPC), in which the magnetic defect layer of CoFe₂O₄ is introduced into the periodic structure, was prepared. The light was localized at the magnetic defect due to the interference of the multilayer film, and the localized transmittance was observed around 530 nm. The Faraday rotation of MPC shows a peak at ∼ 570 nm which is close to the localized peak of transmittance. This may correspond to the enhancement of Faraday rotation due to the localization of light.     

Structural and dielectric properties of Ba0.7Sr0.3TiO3 thin films grown on thin Bi layer-coated Pt(111)/Ti/SiO2/Si substrates

In this work, the growth and study of dielectric properties of Ba_0.7Sr_0.3TiO₃ (BST) thin films grown on thin Bi layer coated Pt(111)/Ti/SiO₂/Si substrates, depending on thin Bi layer thickness is reported. The BST thin film (thickness 180 nm) grown on 10-nm-thick Bi layer exhibited more improved structural and dielectric properties than that grown on bare Pt(111)/Ti/SiO₂/Si substrate. The 10-nm-thick Bi layer in optimum configuration was effective for the grain growth of BST phase and suppressed the formation of the oxygen-deficient layer at the interface between the BST thin film and bottom electrode, which resulted in an increase in dielectric constant and a decrease in leakage current density of the Pt/BST thin film/Pt capacitor.     

Magnetostriction and microstructure of the melt-spun Fe83Ga17 alloy ribbons

Fe₈₃Ga₁₇ alloy ribbons with four thicknesses were prepared by the melt-spun method. The measured results show that magnetostriction is related to the thickness of the ribbons, and its maximum value, −2100 ppm, has been obtained in the ribbon with a thickness of 75 μm. The results of the X-ray diffraction (XRD) and the differential scanning caloric (DSC) show that a phase with DO₃ structure emerges in those ribbons with the thicknesses of 45, 55 and 75 μm, and a phase transition of A2 + DO₃ → A2 occurred at 669°C for the ribbon with the thickness of 75 μm. The increase in the cooling rate can restrain the precipitation of the Ga-rich phase in the ribbon. It is considered that the giant magnetostriction of ribbons originates from the A2 + special DO₃ structure and shape magnetic anisotropy. Translated from Acta Metallurgica Sinica, 2006, 42(2): 177–180 [译自: 金属学报]     

The effect of sputtering gas pressure on structure and photocatalytic properties of nanostructured titanium oxide self-cleaning thin film

Titanium oxide thin films were deposited by DC reactive magnetron sputtering on ZnO (80 nm thickness)/soda-lime glass and SiO₂ substrates at different gas pressures. The post annealing on the deposited films was performed at 400 °C in air atmosphere. The results of X-ray diffraction (XRD) showed that the films had anatase phase after annealing at 400 °C. The structure and morphology of deposited layers were evaluated by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and atomic force microscopy (AFM). The surface grain size and roughness of TiO₂ thin films after annealing were around 10-15 nm and 2-8 nm, respectively. The optical transmittance of the films was measured using ultraviolet-visible light (UV-vis) spectrophotometer and photocatalytic activities of the samples were evaluated by the degradation of Methylene Blue (MB) dye. Using ZnO thin film as buffer layer, the photocatalytic properties of TiO₂ films were improved.     

Ferromagnetic microwires enabled polymer composites for sensing applications

In the present work, sensing functionalities are introduced into structural composites via embedded magnetic microwires. A systematic study on the structure and functionalities of microwires and their composites is performed. The single-wire composite shows a significant giant magnetoimpedance (GMI) effect of up to 320% in a frequency range of 1–100 MHz due to stress enhanced transverse magneto-anisotropy. With increasing quantities of embedded wires from 1 to 3, the maximum GMI ratio is enhanced significantly by more than 35%, making the resultant composite favourable for field sensing applications. The microwire-composite also shows superior stress-sensing resolution as high as 134.5 kHz/microstrain, which is about 26 times higher than the recently proposed SRR-based sensor. As evidenced by the structural examination and tensile tests, the extremely small volume fraction of microwires (～0.01 vol.%) allows the wire-composites to retain their mechanical integrity and performance.     

Formation of TiO2 domains in Poly (9-vinylcarbazole) thin film by hydrolysis-condensation of a metal alkoxide

New organic-inorganic hybrid thin films based on Poly (9-vinylcarbazole) (P9VK) and Dioxide titanium (TiO₂) bulk-heterojunction were obtained by a hydrolysis-condensation (H-C) process of titanium (IV) isopropoxide in thin film. The TiO₂ distribution in the film was investigated by scanning electron microscopy. The results indicated that homogeneous TiO₂ particles around 100 nm were formed on the surface of the polymer thin film. Photoluminescence spectroscopy has been used to study the charge transfer efficiency in the photoactive layer and results were compared with a simplest elaboration route, the dispersion of TiO₂ anatase in a P9VK solution before spin coating. Results showed that TiO₂ elaborated by H-C exhibits a competitive quenching effect with TiO₂ anatase.