Effects of a high magnetic field on structure evolution and properties of the molecular beam vapor deposited Fe60Ni40 nanoparticles thin films

The Fe60Ni40 (in atomic %) nanoparticles (NPs) thin films with 90 nm thickness were prepared on 25 and 400 °C quartz substrates by using the molecular beam vapor deposition (MBVD) method under a 6 T high magnetic field (HMF). The effects of a HMF on the structure evolution and properties of Fe-Ni thin films were studied by using X-ray diffraction, atomic force microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, vibrating sample magnetometer and four-point probe method. The results show that the crystallinity of thin films is enhanced by a 6 T HMF, and a 6 T HMF changes phase composition of thin films on 25 °C substrate. It is found that the nanoparticle size decreases; the nanoparticle size distribution becomes narrow, and the root mean square (rms) roughness of thin films decreases under a 6 T HMF relative to that without HMF. These lead to the decrease of coercive force, and the increase of in-plane remanence ratio under a 6 T HMF.