Formation and Stabilization of Nanosize Grains in Ferromagnetic Thin Films by Dispersed C60

Published

July 1, 2002

Author(s)

L A. Zheng, E V. Barrera, Robert D. Shull

Abstract

A self-assembly grain growth model is proposed to explain the recent observation of the formation of the uniform columnar nanosize grain structures in the ferromagnetic metal-C₆₀ thin films. Calculations of the grain size based on this model comply with the experimental measurement and give a relationship between the grain size and the C₆₀ concentration in these films. Comparative grain growth kinetic studies at 450 C between Co-C₆₀ and Co-films show higher thermal stability and significantly slower grain growth rate in the Co-C₆₀ thin film than those in the Co film. AFM observation shows that the surface of the Co film is coarsened by severe grain growth and formation of surface thermal grooves after annealed at 450 C while the surface of the Co-C₆₀ film maintains smooth due to high thermal stability and slow grain growth in the film. These results indicate that C₆₀ has a dual function of forming and stabilizing the nanosize grains in the metal-C₆₀ films.

Citation

Journal of Applied Physics

Volume

92

Issue

No. 1

Pub Type

Journals

Keywords

ferromagnetic thin films, grain growth, kinetic, nanosize grains, thermal stability

Citation

Zheng, L. , Barrera, E. and Shull, R. (2002), Formation and Stabilization of Nanosize Grains in Ferromagnetic Thin Films by Dispersed C₆₀, Journal of Applied Physics (Accessed October 17, 2025)