Ordering temperature of L10-type FePt films reduced by CuO addition

Effects of addition of CuO layers in L10-type FePt thin films are investigated. The ordering temperature of L10-type FePt films can be reduced by CuO addition. The coercivities of 0.78 and 0.82 T are achieved in [Pt(10 Å)/Fe(14 Å)/CuO(2 Å)]10 film annealed at 550 °C for 20 min and [Pt(10 Å)/Fe(15 Å)/CuO(3 Å)]10 film annealed at 600 °C for 20 min, respectively, and these values are compared to the coercivity of 0.8 T in [Pt(10 Å)/Fe(13 Å)]10 film annealed at 650 °C. The thickness of Fe and CuO layers strongly influences the ordering temperature of L10-type FePt and the magnetic properties of the films. The addition of CuO not only brings microstructure and surface morphology changes of FePt film, but also lowers the ordering temperature.