Paper TF-FrM6
Growth of Fe-Pd Nanoparticles and Thin Films via Pulsed Laser Deposition and the Matrix Assisted Pulsed Laser Evaporation of Metal Based Acetates

Friday, November 4, 2011, 10:00 am, Room 110

Nanoparticle and thin film magnetic alloys of 3d-4d/5d metals such as Fe-Pt, Co-Pt, and Fe-Pd are of technological interest due to their ordered L1₀ tetragonal phase which exhibits high magnetocrystalline anisotropy. Hard magnetic properties combined with ductility and corrosion resistance make these alloys ideal for applications including micro-electro-mechanical systems and ultra high-density magnetic storage. These materials have also been shown to possess a unique strain-induced chessboard eutectoid microstructure between their hard L1₀ and soft L1₂ magnetic phases that features exchange coupling effects. Within this class of materials Fe-Pd alloys possess a low order-disorder transition temperature making them a good candidate for ordered structure studies.

Nanoparticles and thin films of eutectoid (61.5 at% Pd) Fe-Pd were deposited by pulsed laser deposition. Additionally ordered nanoparticles were deposited utilizing a novel technique involving the matrix assisted decomposition of metal-organic precursors. Nanoparticles and films were subsequently characterized by x-ray diffraction, vibrating sample magnetometry, high resolution transmission electron microscopy, and scanning electron microscopy.