Preparation and magnetic properties of Co/Pd nano-multilayers

Co/Pd nano-multilayers films were prepared on (111) plane of single crystal silicon by double-bath method. The mass change of Co and Pd layers were exactly measured by electrochemical quartz crystal microbalance (EQCM). The mechanism of the growth kinetics for Co and Pd was proved to be 3D instantaneous nucleation at the early stage by potential step method. The preferred orientation of (111)(Co-Pd) during the multilayers' electrodeposition and growth was observed by XRD. In addition, magnetic hysteresis loops were measured by physical property measurement system (PPMS) at room temperature and it was shown that coercive force was increased with the decrease of Co thickness, its maximum value reached 9.0x10(4) A/m.