Enhanced (200) Orientation in FeCo/SiO2 Nanocomposite Films by Sol-Gel Spin-Coating on Al Underlayer

Variousthickness Al underlayers were deposited on Si (100) substrates by DC magnetron sputtering, and then FeCo/SiO2 nanocomposite films were prepared on Al underlayer through sol-gel spin-coating combined with hydrogen reduction technique. The effects of Al underlay thickness on the structure and magnetic properties have been investigated by X-ray diffraction and vibrating sample magnetometer. The results indicate that integrated intensity ratio I(200)/I(110) of diffraction peaks (200) and (110) of FeCo, and the saturation magnetization of the films firstly increase then decrease, while the coervicity first decreases then increases with increasing Al underlayer thickness. The specimen with 3-nm Al underlayer has the largest I(200)/ I(110) value as high as 13, indicating that FeCo in the film has a strong (200) texture, and the film has the best soft magnetic property with the maximum saturation magnetization and the minimum coercivity.