Structural, Thermal, Optical, Electrical, and Adhesive Characteristics of FePdB Thin Films

Abstract

To study the structural, thermal, electrical, optical, and adhesive properties of magnetic FePdB thin films, 25–200-Å-thick Fe40Pd40B20and Fe60Pd20B20films were deposited on a glass substrate by direct current (DC) magnetron sputtering at room temperature (RT). X-ray diffraction (XRD) patterns indicated that the 25–75-Å-thick Fe40Pd40B20and Fe60Pd20B20films were amorphous, whereas the 100–200-Å-thick Fe40Pd40B20and Fe60Pd20B20films were crystalline, with a face-centered cubic (FCC) FePd (111) textured structure. The activation energy of the Fe40Pd40B20and Fe60Pd20B20thin films decreased as thickness was increased. The 25-Å-thick Fe40Pd40B20film exhibited the highest resistivity, whereas the 200-Å-thick Fe60Pd20B20film exhibited the lowest resistivity. Increasing the thickness and crystallization reduced transmission. The Fe40Pd40B20thin films exhibited higher surface energy and stronger adhesion than did Fe60Pd20B20thin films.