Structure and Magnetic Properties of Sputtered SmxCo100-x (20 < x < 32) Films Prepared at Low Temperatures

AbstractWe investigated the structure and magnetic properties of SmxCo100-x (20 <x< 32) sputtered onto heated silicon substrates at 350°C (623K). We found that the (110) and (100) preferential orientations coexist in the films in different proportions depending on the Sm content. Coercivity and hysteresis loop shape are dependent on the Sm content and are correlated with the crystallographic orientation of SmCo5 crystallites in the films. Samples with composition Sm32Co68 have predominately (110) orientation and show a magnetization curve with a single magnetic behaviour with coercivity of μ0HC = 1.12 T. In samples where the two orientations are present, the hysteresis curve is characteristic of a superposition of soft and hard magnetic components. The soft magnetic phase is associated with Co with amorphous or nanocrystalline structure