Microstructural contribution to the magnetic anisotropy in Fe 1 − x Ga x thin films: correlation between crystallographic texture and magnetic response

Abstract

In this study, we present a systematic analysis of the relation between the structural properties and magnetic anisotropies of as-grown and heat-treated polycrystalline Fe1−xGax (0.11 < x < 0.19) thin films deposited on glass and Si(100) substrates. The results show that the crystallographic texture of the films has a significant impact on the evolution of the magnetic anisotropies. The samples grown on glass do not exhibit a preferred texture while, for samples grown on Si(100), the appearance of a weak in-plane fourfold magnetic anisotropy is reported. Such anisotropy is enhanced and better defined in the heat treated samples. Via a phenomenological model we show that this anisotropy has a microstructural origin. These findings demonstrate the possibility of tuning magnetic anisotropies by growing on different substrates and/or performing thermal treatments, which in turn reinforces the possibility of developing smart magnetic switching materials for electronic applications.