Increased magnetocrystalline anisotropy in epitaxial Fe-Co-C thin films with spontaneous strain

• Rare earth free alloys are in focus of permanent magnet research since the accessibility of the elements needed for nowadays conventional magnets is limited. Tetragonally strained iron-cobalt (Fe-Co) has attracted large interest as promising candidate due to theoretical calculations. In experiments, however, the applied strain quickly relaxes with increasing film thickness and hampers stabilization of a strong magnetocrys- talline anisotropy. In our study we show that already 2 at% of carbon substantially reduce the lattice relaxation leading to the formation of a spontaneously strained phase with 3% tetragonal distortion. In these strained (Fe0.4Co0.6)0.98C0.02 films, a magnetocrystalline anisotropy above 0.4 MJ/m3 is observed while the large polarization of 2.1 T is maintained. Compared to binary Fe-Co this is a remarkable improve- ment of the intrinsic magnetic properties. In this paper, we relate our experimental work to theoretical studies of strained Fe-Co-C and find a very good agreement.

Subject headings

NATURVETENSKAP  -- Fysik -- Den kondenserade materiens fysik (hsv//swe)

NATURAL SCIENCES  -- Physical Sciences -- Condensed Matter Physics (hsv//eng)

Keyword

Fe-Co

rare earth free permanent magnet

magnetocrystalline anisotropy

tetragonal strain

DFT

RHEED

Fysik med inriktning mot atom- molekyl- och kondenserande materiens fysik

Physics with spec. in Atomic, Molecular and Condensed Matter Physics

Publication and Content Type

vet (subject category)

art (subject category)