Effect of film thickness on properties of electrodeposited Ni-Co films

A series of Ni-Co films with different thicknesses was produced by using the electrodeposition technique and their microstructural, magnetic and magnetotransport properties were investigated. The X-ray (XRD) diffraction measurements showed that the films have the face centered cubic structure and the preferential orientations of the films were in the order of (1 1 1), (2 2 0) and (2 2 0) for the films with 1, 2 and 4 μm thicknesses, respectively. The magnetic measurements revealed that the coercivity decreased from 52 Oe to 37 Oe due to the regular transition of preferential orientation from (1 1 1) to (2 2 0) with increasing film thickness. The study demonstrated that magnetic properties of the films changed according to the microstructural properties. Magnetoresistance investigations exhibited that all films have anisotropic magnetoresistance (AMR).

► The aim of this study is to investigate the effects caused by change of film thickness on the properties of Ni-Co films. ► The Ni-Co films with different thicknesses were produced by using the electrodeposition technique. ► Their microstructural, magnetic and magnetotransport properties were investigated. ► According to results, the Hc of the Ni-Co films has dependence on their preferential growth orientations.