The effect of Co or Ag addition on magnetotransport and magnetic properties of Ni80Fe20 thin films

• We have studied the magnetic properties of permalloy based thin film alloys.
• Structure and magnetic properties strongly depend on annealing temperature.
• Solid solution formation in NiFe–Co alloy increases coercivity and saturation field.
• For NiFe–Ag system, granular structure formation leads to the MR increasing.

The magnetotransport and magnetic properties of Ni80Fe20, (Ni80Fe20)50Co50 and (Ni80Fe20)50Ag50 thin films prepared by the thermal evaporation method are presented. Effect of magnetic (Co) and non-magnetic (Ag) elements addition on magnetoresistance, saturation field, coercivity and sensitivity to the magnetic field of permalloy films were described. Structure and magnetic properties of thin film alloys demonstrated a strong dependence from annealing temperature. Also was shown that structure of all types can be used as sensitive elements of magnetic sensors for low magnetic field detecting.