The Co content and stratification effect on the magnetic properties, microstructure, and phase evolution of [NdFeBNbCu/Co]•n thin films

Some results concerning the magnetic and structural properties of [NdFeBNbCu/Co](.)n thin films in view of their utilization for manufacturing permanent magnets are presented. As compared to Ta/NdFeBNbCu/Ta magnetic single layer, the multilayer Ta/[NdFeBNbCu/Co](.)3/Ta films exhibit good hard magnetic properties and an increase in the Curie temperature due to Nb-Cu addition and stratification effect using Co as spacer layer. The influence of the additions content and the stratification effect on the microstructural and hard magnetic properties of multilayer [NdFeBNbCu/Co](.)n thin films, when the total thickness of NdFeBNbCu layers was 540 nm and the thickness of the Co spacer layers was varied successively from 0 to 6 nm for different annealing conditions, are discussed. (c) 2007 American Institute of Physics.