Structural and magnetic properties of pulsed laser deposited Fe-SiC thin films

Structural and magnetic properties of Fe-SiC thin films have been studied. The Fe-SiC thin films were fabricated by pulsed laser deposition on Si (100) substrate and isochronally annealed at 1073 K and 1273 K in argon atmosphere for 2.5 h. The crystalline ordering of SiC into β-SiC phase and growths of other phases like Fe3Si, SiO2 and FeSiO3 during annealing were investigated by X-ray diffraction and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy measurements. The morphology of thin films was changed from voided structure to dense pyramidal-like structure due to annealing. A continuous decrease in the saturation magnetization and non-monotonic change in coercivity of Fe-SiC thin films were observed with increase in annealing temperature.