CONI/CU multilayers by electrochemical deposition

Electrodeposited multilayers, having different magnetic layer compositions, have been deposited with galvanostatic pulses onto rotating disk electrodes. GMR over 11 % was obtained with CoNi(3.5)/Cu multilayers. The same deposition conditions from an electrolyte without Ni resulted in lower values. Therefore, the influence of Ni(II) on the cathodic and anodic partial current densities was investigated. It was observed that an increase of Ni(II) into the electrolyte resulted in: i. a change in the Cu deposition potential to a more cathodic region, and ii. an improvement of the magnetic sublayer corrosion resistance. Both factors contribute to a reduction of displacement reaction between the magnetic sublayer and Cu(II) ions